Breast Cancer Research in Ghana: A Review of Social Science Perspectives
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Date
2013-12-09
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Abstract
Cancers are fast becoming a leading cause of mortality in Ghana. However cancer research is very limited. The situation is worsened by the woefully inadequate research on the subject in the social sciences, which is badly needed to enhance understanding on, and management of the social science dimensions of the disease. The objective of this chapter is to present an overview of research on the different types of cancer in Ghana, and to highlight gaps in social science research on cancer in Ghana, using breast cancer as a case study. An online search of journal publications on all types of cancer in Ghana revealed 105 articles published between 1956 and 2012. The review focused on the type of cancer and the disciplinary themes of the publications. Eighty nine (89.5%) of publications were based on biomedical research on various kinds of cancer. Breast cancer was the most studied type of cancer (n=34) 32.4%, and was dominated by biomedical research n=28 with the remaining 5 being in the social sciences. Social science themes that emerge in the review were mainly on why breast cancer patients report late or abscond during treatment, general knowledge, attitudes and practices on breast cancer screening, fatalism on breast cancer and the cost-effectiveness of breast cancer screening options.