INFORMATION NEEDS OF RURAL WOMEN IN THE EARLY DETECTION OF BREAST CANCER IN ORUMBA SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Breast cancer remains one of the major leading causes of cancer-related deaths among rural women in the world. Due to their low socio-economic status, they have limited access to information for its early detection. The objective of this study was to determine the information needs of rural women in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria, in the early detection of breast cancer. Descriptive survey study was conducted among 500 Anglican rural women randomly selected from fifteen villages. To obtain the women’s opinion, sixty-item structured questionnaire was distributed, read out and interpreted to them by the researchers and trained research assistants, at the Anglican Church premise during their yearly August meeting. Statistical analysis of data collected was carried out using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 17. The results showed that vast number of early detection information and breast cancer facts were unknown to the rural women (mean scores=2.29 and 1.42). The major medium through which they access breast cancer information was community health centre (55%) while they preferred other channels of communication such as the women group meetings (95.4%). The study established that women critically need information for detection of breast cancer quite early.