Social Networks, Social Support and Quality of Life Among Female Breast Cancer Patients at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia 2019.
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Date
2019-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: Breast cancer is a major life-threatening public health problem in the world. It is the most common form of cancer among women in many developing countries including Ethiopia. Social networks and social supports could change the course of cancer and can influence the quality of life among breast cancer patients.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess social networks, social support and qualityof life among female breast cancer patients attending in Tikur Anbassa Specialized Hospital,Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 2019.
Methods: An institutional basedcross-sectional study was conducted in Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from March to April 2019. A total of 214 female breast cancer patients were included and systematic sampling method was used. A structured and pre-tested questionnaire was used. Data entry was done using epi data version 4.2.Data
analysis was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 25. Binary and multiple logistic regression was used to show the association of social networks, social support and quality of life. P-value <0.05 and 95%CI was used.
Result:A total of 214 women with breast cancer were recruited.Themeanage was 41.85.Among total participants,13(6%), 65(30%) and 136(64%) had limited, medium and diverse social networks respectively. From total participants, 124(58%) had good social support whereas,198(92.52%) of them had affectedquality of life.Participants who were illiterate were more likely to have affected quality of life by 3 times than who were more
educated (AOR=3, 95%CI: 1.3,6.9, COR=4.8) and who had systematic therapy side effects were more likely to have affected QoL by 3.8 times than who had no systemic therapy side effect (AOR=3.8, 95%CI: 1.1,13, COR=4).
Conclusionandrecommendation:In this study finding quality of life in breast cancer was low.Healthcareprovidersespecially working at oncology departmentneed to focus on addressing side effects of therapy, social network and social support which may help to improve quality of life of women with breast cancer.
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Keywords
Social networks; social support; Quality of life; breast cancer.