Stakeholder Perceptions of Cancer Awareness and Beliefs Across Communities in Ghana

Abstract

In sub-Saharan African countries like Ghana, stakeholders involved in cancer prevention and control efforts regularly interact with various communities through community outreach and program implementation. Yet, little is known about the stakeholders’ insights into how these communities understand cancers, related symptoms, prevention, and care. This study explored stakeholders’ views on cancer awareness and related beliefs among various communities across Ghana. Data was from key informant interviews with stakeholders engaged in cancer control initiatives in Ghana, July–August 2021. Study participants (N = 18) were from the government, health services, nongovernmental organizations, media, and academic fields. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using NVivo 12. Narrative summaries and thematic coding were used to compare the perspectives of stakeholders. Four themes were identified regarding stakeholders’ views on community cancer knowledge and beliefs including: increasing awareness but inadequate knowledge of cancers; cancer-related fears often associated with death; misperceptions and myths about cancers that associate cancer symptoms with common ailments; and traditional and religious beliefs about cancers (such as spiritual attack) resulting in seeking spiritual cures for the disease. Stakeholders’ reports highlight a need for increased cancer education across Ghana. Increased cancer education could dispel current fears and misconceptions around cancers and increase interest and uptake of cancer prevention and control services.