Current knowledge, attitudes and practices of women on breast cancer and mammography at Mulago Hospital.
BACKGROUND
Breast cancer is the third commonest cancer in Ugandan women. Women present late for breast cancer management which leads to high mortality rates. The objective of the study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of Ugandan women concerning breast cancer and mammography.


METHODS
This was a descriptive cross-sectional study where 100 women reporting to the Radiology department were interviewed. We used consecutive sampling. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to collect opinions of the participants. For data analysis, answers were described as knowledge, attitude, practice and they were correlated with control variables through the chi-square. Bivariate and logistic regression analyses were also used.


RESULTS
Most of the women (71%) had no idea about mammography. More than 50% did not know about risk factors for breast cancer. The attitude towards mammography was generally negative. Regarding seeking for mammography; level of literacy, occupation and marital status were significant on bivariate analysis, however only level of literacy and employment remained the significant independent variables on logistic regression analysis. The main barrier to mammography was mainly lack of information.


CONCLUSIONS
Women in this study had inadequate knowledge and inappropriate practice related to mammography as a procedure for breast cancer investigation.
Radiology department, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
Kiguli-Malwadde
KM
Elsie
Mubuuke A
MA
Gonzaga
Businge
B
Francis
Kawooya G
KG
Michael
Nakatudde
N
Rebecca
Byanyima K
BK
Rosemary
Muyinda
M
Zeridah
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016504:Breast Self-Examination; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008327:Mammography / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014454:Uganda