Exploring the socio-cultural interpretations of breast cancer and the coping strategies of patients at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Ghana

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.