Background: Breast cancer remains the most common malignancy and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women globally and the second leading cause of cancer among women in Uganda. In Uganda, despite ongoing efforts to decentralize cancer prevention and early detection services, most breast cancer cases are still diagnosed at advanced stages. This study explored community knowledge, attitudes and health-seeking behaviours toward breast cancer and early detection practices in the Western and West-Nile regions of Uganda through the lenses of both the health professionals and the communities.
Methods: An exploratory qualitative design was employed, using five key informant interviews and eight focus group discussions conducted among healthcare professionals and community members in Arua and Mbarara health regions. Participants were purposively selected based on their involvement in breast cancer care or residence in the study areas. Data were collected using semi-structured interview guides, audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, translated into English and analysed using manifest content analysis. Coding was performed both inductively and deductively to generate themes and sub-themes.
Results: Attitudes and health-seeking behaviours toward breast cancer were influenced by individual, community and health system factors. Individual factors included knowledge and awareness about breast cancer, detection of breast abnormalities and sociodemographic characteristics such as age, education and childbirth history. Exposure to breast cancer survivors and perceived personal risk also motivated health-seeking behaviour. Community-level influences included fear generated by witnessing others suffer or recover from breast cancer. Participants emphasised that awareness campaigns and access to trained health workers were key facilitators for early screening, while lack of knowledge and misconceptions hindered timely health-seeking.
Conclusion: Findings highlight that limited breast cancer awareness, misconceptions and sociodemographic disparities significantly affect women’s health-seeking behaviours for breast cancer in Uganda. Exposure to breast cancer survivors and targeted health education were found to positively influence screening uptake. Strengthening decentralised breast health education programs, training of primary healthcare workers and community health extension workers can enhance early detection and improve outcomes.
