• Lawreta Ijeoma Abugu, Evelyn Nwanebe Nwagu, Adaustin Ifeoma Okeke, and Amelia Ngozi Odo.
• Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
• Afr Health Sci. 2023 Sep 1; 23 (3): 280290280-290.

BackgroundBreast cancer is a serious public health threat. Mammography is the most reliable screening method that detects breast cancer early, enabling early onset of treatment which improves the prognosis of the disease.ObjectivesTo determine women's knowledge of breast cancer, as well as barriers and willingness of women to participate in mammography screening.MethodsUsing the cross-sectional survey design, we sampled and studied two rural communities of Enugu State, Nigeria. Two researcher-made questionnaires were used for the study. Frequencies, percentages, chi-square and regression analysis were employed in data analysis.ResultsOnly 11.4 percent of study participants had good knowledge of breast cancer. There were significant differences in knowledge of breast cancer based on level of education (χ2 = 15.670; p =.001), monthly income (χ2 =6.954; p = .021) and ever screened (χ2 =5.242; p =.015). Lack of money (48.0%) and lack of knowledge (30.4%) were the most reported barriers to breast cancer screening. Women that had ever screened were 92.3% less likely willing to be screened than those never screened (aOR: .077, 95%CI .011-.522, p=.009).ConclusionHealth Education should be combined with improving women's economic status and subsidizing the cost of screening to increase breast cancer screening practice.© 2023 Abugu LI et al.

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