Women's Experiences with Cervical Cancer in Ghana

Dzando, Gideon; Yabila, Solomon; Kumah, Augustine; Hukporti, Nelson; Asante, Dennis; Nwokonna, Cynthia; Awiagah, Sherrif Kwame

Abstract

Cervical cancer remains a significant global public health concern, and its impact in low- and middle-income countries, including Ghana is profound. Existing policies in Ghana focus on early screening and diagnosis. While the primary step of diagnosis is important and widely represented in literature, the evidence on the experiences of women diagnosed with cervical cancer remain sparse. The aim of this scoping review, therefore, is to explore and map the available literature on the experiences of women diagnosed with cervical cancer in Ghana. This study was conducted according to the framework developed by Arksey and O’Malley and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. Five databases (Google Scholar, PubMed, SCOPUS, CINAHL, and Africa Journal online) were searched using key words and key terms. Two authors independently screened the titles and abstracts, and the full texts of the included studies. Out of the 463 studies identified through the database search, ten studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the review. The findings reveal that, the experiences of Ghanaian women with cervical cancer are multifaceted. These experiences are influenced by physical, psychological, and socio-cultural factors with significant impact on their quality of life. The women expressed ongoing discomfort due to bleeding and chronic pain. Psychologically, the women expressed pervasive anxiety, due to the fear associated with the diagnosis, and the cost associated living with cervical cancer. The socio-cultural experiences varied among the women. While some of the women expressed receiving support from their family members and friends, others reported receiving immense support from their significant others. Policy makers must consider including the experiences of women with cervical cancer in policy to provide interventions that meet their specific needs.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 22, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Feb 29, 2024
• Publication Date: 2024-04
• Deposit Date: Feb 29, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 29, 2024
• Journal: Journal of Medicine, Surgery, and Public Health
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 2
• Article Number: 100076
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.glmedi.2024.100076
• Keywords: Cervical Cancer, Experiences. Ghana, Perspectives, Health Policy
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/3527789