Author(s)

Kingsley Chidi Anochiwa¹, Sally Nkechinyere Onyeka Ibe², Eunice Anyalewechi Nwoke², Onyinyechi Blessed Nworuh², Asinobi Oluchi³, Darlington Chidi Amadi¹, Emmanuel Okechukwu Nna⁴

¹Department of Pathology, Federal University Teaching Hospital, Owerri, Nigeria.
²Department of Public Health, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria.
³College of Medicine, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria.
⁴Safety Molecular Pathology Laboratory, Molecular Pathology Institute, Enugu, Nigeria.

Background: Breast cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer in women worldwide. It can be stratified by histological and immunopathological analysis as well as by molecular subtypes. Socioeconomic and cultural-mediated factors contribute to breast cancer heterogeneity and overall survivability. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the influence of socioeconomic profile on the uptake of immunohistochemistry (IHC) services among women with breast cancer attending tertiary health facilities in Imo State. Methodology: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among women with breast cancer in Imo State. The instrument for data collection used was a structured questionnaire constructed in line with the objectives of the study. A total of 121 respondents were selected randomly from a target study population of 891 using a systematic sampling technique. The software Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21 was used for data analysis. Results: The mean age of the 121 respondents in this study was 45.2 ± 0.7 years. Age and education levels of the respondents were found to significantly influence the utilization of IHC services (P < 0.0001). In terms of age, the level of uptake of IHC services was found higher among younger women (75%) compared to the elderly. In relation to the level of education, uptake was found higher among participants with tertiary education (69.5%) compared to primary and secondary educational levels respectively. Conclusion: In our study, the consumption of IHC services was influenced significantly by the respondents’ age and level of education. Consequently, public health awareness programmes centred on the importance of IHC services in the management of breast cancer should be encouraged, so as to reach the less educationally endowed and older women in order to save more lives.

Breast Cancer, Uptake, Immunohistochemistry, Socioeconomics Profile, Age, Education

Anochiwa, K. , Ibe, S. , Nwoke, E. , Nworuh, O. , Oluchi, A. , Amadi, D. and Nna, E. (2023) Influence of Socioeconomic Profile on Uptake of Immunohistochemistry Services among Women with Breast Cancer Attending Tertiary Health Facilities. Journal of Biosciences and Medicines, 11, 126-135. doi: 10.4236/jbm.2023.1110012.