‘I want to live for them’; Determinants of Uptake of Clinical Breast Examination: A Qualitative Inquiry

BackgroundClinical breast examination is still relevant in resource-constrained countries for the early detection of breast cancer. Uptake of breast cancer screening programmes in developing countries remains low. It is imperative to explore the factors that influence women’s decision to participate in screening services.ObjectiveTo examine the perceptions, motivations, and barriers to uptake of clinical breast examination.MethodsThis was a descriptive qualitative inquiry. Twelve women who participated in clinical breast examinations were purposively sampled for semi-structured interviews. Interviews were audio-taped, transcribed verbatim, and thematically analysed.ResultsFear of death, personal interest, excellent customer service, and public education motivated participation in the clinical breast examination. Perceived benefits included psychological relief, early detection, inspiring other women, and the acquisition of skills and knowledge. Anxiety about being diagnosed with breast cancer, financial constraints, poor service delivery, and peer pressure were the perceived barriers. Participants who felt anxious about breast cancer performed self-breast examinations more often than the standard practice. The knowledge of participants about breast cancer and breast cancer screening techniques was generally poor.ConclusionHealth interventions designed to promote health seeking behaviors need to be realigned to reflect the evidence on the factors influencing the uptake of these interventions. Rwanda J Med Health Sci 2022;5(1):85-98