Abstract:
Breast cancer is considered as a global public health problem. Many lives are lost
to it because of late diagnosis, where treatment of the disease is almost
impossible. Factors such as socio-cultural interpretations of the disease have been
attributed to this delay. This study therefore sought to examine some socio
cultural interpretations of breast cancer and the coping strategies adopted by
patients in Cape Coast Teaching Hospital. Qualitative research design informed
the orientation of the study. In-depth interviews were conducted to elicit
information from twenty-five participants who were involved in the study. The
data were validated through observation. The social constructionism theory and
the ABC-X model informed the study. The study revealed that the interpretations
linked with the disease did not only determine the time patients reported to the
hospital but also permeated their entire health seeking behaviours. Those who
believed the illness was a spiritual condition were much more inclined to seek
spiritual help from their deities and vice versa. In addition, patients either
absconding or continuing orthodox treatment was influenced by their socio
demographic characteristics. Furthermore, the extent of appearance concerns of
patients were dependent on the stage of the disease, age and marital status of
patients. It was discovered that patients adopted In-group support as a means of
coping with the illness. It is recommended, among other things, that hospitals
should spearhead the formation of informal breast cancer advisor groups to help
educate and support patients.
