Breast health awareness campaign and screening pilot in a Kenyan County: Findings and lessons

Abstract

Background and Aim Breast cancer is the leading cancer in terms of incidence in Kenya. We conducted a breast cancer awareness and screening pilot to assess feasibility of rolling out a national screening program in Kenya. Methods Conducted in Nyeri County during October–November 2019, the pilot had three phases; awareness creation, screening (clinical breast examination and/or imaging) and final evaluation (post‐screening exit interviews and retrospective screening data review). Descriptive statistics on awareness, screening process and outputs were derived. Results During the pilot, 1813 CBE, 217 breast ultrasounds and 600 mammograms were performed. Mammography equipment utilization increased from 11% to 83%. Of 49 women with suspicious lesions on mammography, only 22 (44.9%) had been linked to care 4 months after the campaign. Of 532 exit interview respondents; 95% (505/532) were ≥35 years of age; 80% (426/532) had been reached by the awareness campaign. Majority (75% [399/532]) had received information from community health volunteers; 68% through social groups. Majority (79% [420/532]) felt the campaign had changed their behavior on breast health. Although 77% (407/532) had knowledge on self breast examination (SBE); only 13% practiced monthly SBE. More than half (58% [306/532]) had previously undertaken a CBE. Approximately 70% (375/528) were unaware of mammography before the pilot; 86% (459/532) had never previously undertaken a mammogram. Fifty‐five percent (293/532) of respondents had screening waiting times of >120 min. Conclusion Community health workers can create breast cancer screening demand sustainably. Adequate personnel and effective follow‐up are crucial before national roll‐out of a breast cancer screening program.

Women's Perception Regarding the Ministry of Health Initiatives Plan for Early Detection of Breast Cancer

“…Also, these results agrees with the study achieved by (Mwenda et al, 2021), which entitled as Breast health awareness campaign and screening pilot in a Kenyan County, who stated that, Long waiting time to be screening reported by less than third the studied sample . Because the womens had been waiting for a long time to be examined , so it was a barrier for them not to go to the campaign .…”

The effect of a pilot universal health coverage program on hospital workload: A comparative study of two counties in Kenya

“…A breast cancer screening pilot held at the NCRH recorded a 614% increase in the number of clients undergoing mammography compared to a similar period in 2018. This was attributed to the pilot UHC program which paid for 98% of all mammograms done at a cost of 20 US Dollars per mammogram [ 27 ].…”