Symptom appraisal, help-seeking and perceived barriers to healthcare seeking in Uganda: an exploratory study among women with potential symptoms of breast and cervical cancer.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

We assessed the process of recognising abnormal bodily changes, interpretations and attributions, and help-seeking behaviour among community-based Ugandan women with possible symptoms of breast and cervical cancer, in order to inform health interventions aiming to promote timely detection and diagnosis of cancer.

Design

Qualitative in-depth interviews.

Setting

Rural and urban communities in Uganda.

Participants

Women who participated in the African Women Awareness of CANcer cross-sectional survey who disclosed potential breast and cervical cancer symptoms were eligible; recruitment was purposive. Interviews were conducted in women's homes, lasted between 40 and 90 min, were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and translated to English. Thematic analy

SUBMITTER: Mwaka AD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7925866 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature