Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 Apr 26;33(5):419.
doi: 10.1007/s00520-025-09475-w.

Exploring the impact of breast cancer support groups on survivorship and treatment decision-making in eastern Ethiopia: a qualitative study

Nahom G Belete  1 , Meera Bhakta  2 , Tara Wilfong  3 , Mahlet Shewangizaw  1 , Edilawit Abebaw Abera  1 , Yehenaw Tenaw  1 , Michael Shawel  1 , Habtamu Seife  1 , Biruk Habtamu  1 , Nahom Wondwossen  1 , Elizabeth A Wood  4
Affiliations

Exploring the impact of breast cancer support groups on survivorship and treatment decision-making in eastern Ethiopia: a qualitative study

Nahom G Belete et al. Support Care Cancer. .

Erratum in

Abstract

Purpose: This study explores the psychosocial impact of breast cancer (BC) support groups on survivorship and treatment decision-making among women in Harar, Ethiopia. It examines the influence of cultural, social, and economic factors on treatment decisions and assesses the effectiveness of support groups in addressing these challenges.

Methods: A community-based case study used semi-structured, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Participants included women attending BC support groups and key informants, including healthcare providers, caregivers, and spiritual leaders. Data were collected at the Hiwot Fana Cancer Treatment Center and were analyzed thematically using an inductive approach to identify key themes.

Results: The study highlighted significant barriers to timely BC treatment, including cultural stigma, financial constraints, reliance on alternative medicine, and limited healthcare infrastructure. Support groups were pivotal in improving emotional and psychological well-being, fostering a sense of community, and influencing treatment decision-making. Participants reported increased awareness, reduced stigma, and enhanced community advocacy.

Conclusions: BC support groups in Harar address critical gaps in cancer care by providing psychosocial support and mitigating barriers to treatment. These groups also serve as platforms for community education and advocacy, promoting early detection and modern treatment practices.

Implications for cancer survivors: Support groups empower BC survivors by improving emotional resilience, facilitating informed treatment decisions, and fostering a sense of belonging. They also help reduce stigma and build supportive community networks essential for long-term survivorship in low-resource settings. Expanding access to such groups could significantly enhance cancer care outcomes in Ethiopia and similar contexts.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Ethiopia; Qualitative; Support groups; Survivorship.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval: This study was conducted in accordance with the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments; ethical approval was obtained from the University of Notre Dame (protocol # 24–03 - 8458) Institutional Review Board on April 1, 2024, and the Haramaya University (#116/2024) Institutional Health Ethics Review Committee (IHERC) ethical committee on May 20, 2024. Consent to participate: Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study. Competing interests: The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel RL, Laversanne M, Soerjomataram I, Jemal A, Bray F (2021) Global cancer statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA: Cancer J Clin 71(3):209–49 - PubMed
    1. Parkin DM, Bray F, Ferlay J, Jemal A (2014) Cancer in Africa 2012. Cancer Epidemiol Biomark Prev 23(6):953–966 - PubMed
    1. World Health Organization (2016) Breast cancer: prevention and control. World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland. http://www.who.int/cancer/detection/breastcancer/en/index1.html. Accessed 3 Sept 2024
    1. Black E, Richmond R (2019) Improving early detection of breast cancer in sub-Saharan Africa: why mammography may not be the way forward. Glob Health 15:1–1 - PMC - PubMed
    1. Tsoka-Gwegwenia JM, Cumber SN, Nchanji KN (2017) Breast cancer among women in sub-Saharan Africa: prevalence and a situational analysis. South Afr J Gynaecol Oncol 9(2):28–30

LinkOut - more resources