KNOWLEDGE AND UTILIZATION OF ROUTINE ANNUAL MAMMOGRAPHY AMONG WOMEN ATTENDING OUT-PATIENT CLINIC AT THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN OUTREACH HOSPITAL OKOTA LAGOS, NIGERIA

Okonkwo, Uchenna Teresa

Department of Sociology/Anthropology

University of Nigeria, Nsukka

E-Mail: uchenna.okonkwo@unn.edu.ng

Abstract

The study examined the knowledge and utilization of routine annual mammography among women attending out-patient clinic at Women and Children Outreach Hospital Okota Lagos, Nigeria. The quantitative method of data gathering was utilized for the study. The instrument for data collection was the questionnaire. 180 questionnaires were distributed using the availability sampling technique. The findings of the study showed that women (86%) attending the out-patient clinic at the Women and and Children Outreach Hospital Okota Lagos, Nigerian were highly knowledgeable about the importance of routine annual mammography. They revealed that routine annual mammography is very crucial to the early detection of breast cancer. The women’s higher level of knowledge on the importance of routine annual mammography did not translate to their utilization of the routine breast cancer detection examination. They gave three (3) major reasons why the poor utilization of the routine examination existed – (i) fear of side effects, (ii) fear of eventually contracting the illness, and (iii) financial constraint. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that awareness on the importance of routine annual mammography to detect early breast cancer in order to give prompt treatment should be created through seminars, use of mass media, conferences etc. these ways of awareness raising should also target drinking the perceptions they have impeding their utilization of routine annual mammography.

Keywords: Knowledge, Utilization, Routine, Annual, Mammography