title: Sociocultural factors and breast cancer in sub-Saharan Africa: implications for diagnosis and management.
abstract: The incidence of breast cancer is on the rise in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and efforts at early diagnosis have not been very successful because the public has scant knowledge about the disease, a large percentage of breast cancer cases are diagnosed late and mainly rural SSA women's practice of breast self-examination is poor. In this paper, we argue that an examination of the social and cultural contexts of SSA that influence breast cancer diagnosis and management in the region is needed. We discuss the implications of sociocultural factors, such as gender roles and spirituality, on breast cancer diagnosis and management in SSA.
authors.affiliation: Bowling Green State University, School of Media & Communication, 302 West Hall, Bowling Green, OH 43403, USA.
authors.forename: Dinah A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Tetteh
authors.affiliation: Bowling Green State University, School of Media & Communication, 302 West Hall, Bowling Green, OH 43403, USA.|Bowling Green State University, Women's Gender & Sexuality Studies, 236 Shatzel Hall, Bowling Green, OH 43403, USA.
authors.forename: Sandra L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Faulkner
mesh_terms: D017954:Africa South of the Sahara / Q000453:epidemiology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011379:Prognosis; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016387:Women's Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: breast cancer; culture; social; sub-Saharan Africa; women's health