Risk perception and barriers to utilization of mammogram for breast cancer screening among female healthcare professionals in a tertiary health institution, Benin City, Nigeria

Abstract

Abstract Background: For the effective functioning of health workers as promoters of breast cancer prevention through early detection, the need for relevant knowledge about the disease and its early detection is crucial. Objective: This study assessed the risk perceptions and barriers to use mammograms for breast cancer screening among female healthcare professionals in a tertiary health institution in Benin City, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The quantitative approach was utilized in this study as it is a systematic process that helps to describe and test relationships among variables without bias. In line with this, a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 255 female healthcare professionals from April 2023 to July 2023, using the multistage and convenience sampling method. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data with a reliability of 0.781. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 22.0 and presented in words and frequency distribution tables. Hypotheses were tested with chi-square at a 5% level of significance. Results: A total of 225 nurses (88.2%) and 30 doctors (11.8%) participated in the study. The mean age was 45.69 ± 5.814 years (nurses = 45.55 ± 5.679 years; doctors 46.73 ± 6.757 years). Overall, 223 (87.5%) showed a positive risk perception of breast cancer with a mean of 2.74 ± 0.966. Only 35 (13.7%) respondents had a mammogram in the last 24 months before the study. Mean ± SD = 1.15 ±.376. Utilization was not associated with risk perception (P = 0.409), but there was a significant difference (P = 0.001) in the utilization of mammograms between nurses (10.7%) and doctors (36.7%). Perceived barriers to utilization of mammogram include cost 190 (86.4%), preference for other screening methods 210 (95.5%), fear of abnormal findings 189 (85.9%), and busy work schedule 200 (90.9%). Conclusion: There is a high positive risk perception of breast cancer but poor utilization of mammography. Therefore, it is recommended to sensitize female healthcare professionals on the need for mammography breast screening through training and re-training.