Barriers to Care-seeking among Women Living with Cervical Cancer in Tamale, Ghana

Abstract

Background: There is an upsurge of cervical cancer cases worldwide, of which Ghana is no exception. However, despite the growing population of women suffering from this disease, not much research has been done. According to studies undertaken in other countries, survivors of cervical cancer encounter a lot of challenges such as socio-economic, physical, and psychological. In Ghana the few studies on the disease do not address the experiences of women living with the disease. The study sought to assess the barriers to care and experience of women living with cervical cancer seeking care at Tamale Teaching Hospital. Methods: The exploratory descriptive qualitative design was used for the study. The Study was conducted in the Tamale Metropolis, specifically targeting women who have been diagnosed with the disease and undergoing treatment at the Tamale Teaching Hospital. The purposive sampling technique was used to recruit participants for the study. A semi-structured interview guide was used to conduct face-to-face interviews with participants. The tape-recorded interviews were then transcribed verbatim and analysed manually with the content analysis approach. The results were analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings: The study reveals that women living with cervical cancer in the Tamale Metropolis grief about the unfairness of life as to why this should happen to them. More, patients have lost hope in ever recovering from the disease, a situation which has led to further hopelessness and suicidal intent. Recommendations: Practice the family centered approach in caring for women living with cervical cancer. This approach will ensure that the patient’s family members and even the community at large play an active role in caring for the patient. It will go a long way to reduce neglect and stigma. Organize refresher courses for health staff on how to relate and communicate with patients.