Background: This study aimed to assess breast cancer awareness, perception, and screening practices among women in the Tamale Metropolis of Ghana. Despite global efforts to promote early detection, many women in low- and middle-income countries, including Ghana, continue to experience delayed diagnosis and poor outcomes due to limited awareness and access to screening services.

Methods: The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional research design. A total of 396 adult women aged 18 years and above were selected using a stratified random sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS with chi-square tests to determine associations. The results indicated that the respondents had an average level of awareness (51%), average perception and attitude (44.71%), and average screening practice (44.71%). Despite facing certain challenges, there was a moderate level of breast cancer awareness and screening practices among women in the Tamale Metropolis, Ghana.

Findings: The study found that ethnicity had a statistically significant association with breast cancer awareness and screening practices among women in Tamale Metropolis (χ² = 36.833, p = 0.000). Conversely, education level exhibited a non-significant association with awareness (χ² = 2.654, p = 0.690), while age demonstrated a strong significant association with mammogram utilization (χ² = 117.435, p = 0.000). Religion also had a significant influence on clinical breast examination and mammogram practices (χ² = 12.228, p = 0.001; χ² = 12.615, p = 0.001, respectively).

Conclusion: The findings suggest that socio-demographic characteristics, particularly age, ethnicity, and religion, significantly influence breast cancer awareness and screening behaviors. Based on these findings, it is recommended to strengthen community-based education initiatives and increase access to age- and culture-sensitive breast screening programs. Improving early detection strategies will be vital in reducing breast cancer morbidity and mortality in the region.

TBA