AWARENESS OF EARLY-ONSET BREAST CANCER, RISK PERCEPTIONS, AND HELP-SEEKING INTENTIONS AMONG YOUNG WOMEN IN SELECTED COMMUNITIES IN JOS NORTH, PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

TOPIC: AWARENESS OF EARLY-ONSET BREAST CANCER, RISK PERCEPTIONS, AND HELP-SEEKING INTENTIONS AMONG YOUNG WOMEN IN SELECTED COMMUNITIES IN JOS NORTH, PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

THIS TOPIC IS ALSO SUITABLE FOR:
1. Department of Public Health
2. Department of Nursing Science
3. Department of Community Health
4. Department of Health Education
This research material contains:
1-Chapter One to Five
2-Recent References/citations
3-Tables/Charts/Graphs in Chapter Four
4-Accurate Data Analysis
5-Table of Contents
6-Questionnare

ABSTRACT
This study was carried out to examine awareness of early-onset breast cancer, risk perceptions, and help-seeking intentions among young women in selected communities in Jos North, Plateau State, Nigeria. The study was specifically carried out to assess the level of awareness of early-onset breast cancer among young women in selected communities in Jos North Local Government Area, examine the perceptions of young women regarding early-onset breast cancer in selected communities in Jos North Local Government Area, assess the level of risk perception of early-onset breast cancer among young women in selected communities in Jos North Local Government Area and determine the help-seeking intentions of young women following the identification of symptoms suggestive of early-onset breast cancer in selected communities in Jos North Local Government Area. The study employed the descriptive research design. The population of the study comprised 2,230 young women in selected communities in Jos North, Plateau State, Nigeria. A sample size of 339 respondents was determined using Taro Yamane formula, while 324 validated copies of questionnaire were used for the analysis. The study adopted multi-stage sampling technique involving stratified and convenience sampling methods. Hence, questionnaire was used for data collection, while the data collected were analyzed using frequency tables, percentages, and Pearson Chi-square statistical tool. From the responses obtained and analyzed, the findings revealed that young women demonstrated moderate awareness of early-onset breast cancer with 61.1% showing positive awareness level. The study also showed moderate positive perceptions regarding early-onset breast cancer with 63.2% of respondents demonstrating favorable perceptions. Likewise, the findings revealed moderate risk perception among young women with 62.7% acknowledging susceptibility to early-onset breast cancer. Furthermore, help-seeking intentions were relatively positive with 65.1% of respondents indicating willingness to seek prompt medical attention following identification of symptoms. The hypotheses tested revealed significant relationships between awareness and help-seeking intentions at r = 0.462, p = 0.014, perceptions and help-seeking intentions at r = 0.538, p = 0.021, and risk perceptions and help-seeking intentions at r = 0.491, p = 0.018. The study therefore recommends that healthcare stakeholders should intensify awareness campaigns, strengthen health education programs, and improve access to breast cancer screening services for young women.
Keywords: Early-Onset Breast Cancer, Awareness, Risk Perception, Help-Seeking Intentions, Young Women.

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION (Preview)
1.1 Background to the Study
Breast cancer has increasingly assumed a prominent position within the global public health agenda due to its profound implications for population health, healthcare systems, and sustainable development. There has been a focus on enhancing health promotion programmes in developed and developing nations to promote disease prevention, early detection and informed use of health services. A key factor in these programmes is health awareness as it gives people the information they need to make the right choices about their health. Ibrahim et al. (2022) found that health awareness increased people's ability to identify the symptoms of the disease and adopt preventive health practices. Mossa (2022) also suggested that health literacy was a crucial and essential factor in a person's capacity to make health decisions as it enabled them to make informed interpretations on health information. Adaranijo et al. (2024) also noted that continuous awareness campaigns had a notable impact on enhancing public knowledge and awareness about NCDs and the role of prevention. Hussin et al. (2026) also emphasized that improving health awareness led to an increase in the use of health services, highlighting the valuable role of educational interventions as an effective tool for enhancing health outcomes in the population. This general awareness of health is a crucial stepping stone to comprehend the significance of breast cancer awareness among women.
Breast cancer still stands as one of the most intensively studied women cancers worldwide due to the high epidemiology population. Breast cancer is a cancer of the breast, which is a malignant (cancerous) tumor or growth of abnormal cells in the tissues of the breast with the potential to spread to other parts of the body. According to Sadoh et al (2021), breast cancer was the most common type of cancer in women globally, and it remains a significant cause of cancer mortality. Traditionally, the disease has been linked to late age, but recently the scientific interest has shifted to early onset breast cancer which is breast cancer diagnosed in women under 40 years of age (Afaya et al., 2024). Akingbade et al. (2022) stated that early onset breast cancer often has distinct pathological features and hence the need to create awareness among the younger women. Elamin et al. (2025) also detailed that awareness of EOBC includes knowledge about its symptoms, risk factors, preventative measures, and screening opportunities. The authors, Adejoh et al. (2024), further stated that having a deep understanding of breast health would help improve attitudes toward engaging with breast health care, and this is supported by comprehensive awareness.
Breast cancer awareness has been steadily growing and cognitive processes are now becoming a greater focus of study when considering responses to breast cancer information. One of these processes is risk perception — the extent to which an individual subjectively believes they are at risk of a disease and what they think the impact of the disease will be. Ofosuhene et al. (2025) provided a reason that high-risk perception had a significant impact on how people understood health information and their commitment to taking preventive measures. Chibatamoto et al. (2025) also found that women who perceived themselves as being at risk of breast cancer were more motivated to find out about health and engage in preventive health behaviour. Similarly, Ibrahim et al. (2022) pointed out the significance of the behavioural determinants perceived susceptibility and perceived severity in health-related intentions. As closely related to risk perception is help-seeking intention, Mossa (2022) conceptualized as an individual's readiness and willingness to seek qualified healthcare providers when perceiving abnormal symptoms or health issues. Adaranijo et al. (2024) continued to assert that awareness, risk perception and help seeking intention are interrelated constructs which could influence health behaviour and help-seeking intention for adopting preventive healthcare amongst women.
Awareness of EOC; risk perceptions and intentions to seek help in relation to EOC are interlinked and have become more salient in today's public health research as they all affect other aspects of health behaviour in young women in different settings. Afaya et al. (2024) highlighted the need to investigate these variables in particular sociocultural contexts, as this can provide empirical evidence to guide health promotion strategies that are specific to that context. Adejoh et al. (2024) also noted that community-based investigations can help identify the effect of demographic, cultural and environmental features on breast health awareness and intentions for behavior. However, young women are a key population in exploring these interrelated concepts as they are more engaged in education, occupation and social activities which determine exposure to health information in the selected communities of Jos North Local Government Area, Plateau State. Elamin et al. (2025) argued that context-specific investigations better capture the uniqueness of the study environment and thus contributes to the development of locally appropriate health education interventions. Therefore, it became relevant and appropriate to investigate the awareness of early onset breast cancer, risk perceptions and help seeking intentions among young women in selected communities in Jos North, Plateau State, Nigeria, to gain an appropriate geographical context to the understanding of these concepts in the geographical scope of the present study.

1.2 Statement of the Problem
Breast cancer is a major public health problem and continues to be a problem that is recognized, as the incidence of breast cancer in women of all age groups continues to rise. In recent years, raising awareness and early detection have been recognized as key elements in the health promotion process that can help to improve survival outcomes and health seeking behaviour. Sadoh et al., (2021), noted that breast cancer remains one of the most common cancers in women worldwide and Afaya et al., (2024), reported on the need to pay special attention to early-onset breast cancer (EOBC) that occurs in women younger than 40 years. The importance of health awareness has been established as a key factor that influences preventive health behaviours with Ibrahim et al. (2022) and Adaranijo et al. (2024) highlighting the importance of health awareness for informed decision-making and positive health orientations in women. These views highlight the need to explore breast cancer knowledge and behavioural intentions of young women in a variety of contexts.
Empirical data indicate that knowledge of early onset breast cancer, risk perception and help seeking intentions among young women are not always optimal across populations. Young women should also have sufficient breast cancer knowledge, realistic perceptions of breast cancer susceptibility and timely intentions to seek professional medical advice when they notice any unusual changes in their breasts. But what has already been found is that in practice these expectations often do not materialize. Risk perception was found to not necessarily result in proper health-seeking behavior among women by Ofosuhene et al., (2025) and Chibatamoto et al., (2025). Likewise, Mossa (2022) and Ibrahim et al. (2022) noted that there were inconsistencies in health-related decisions, contributed to by lack of interpretation of health information and different awareness levels. The gap between the ideal behaviours and the actual behaviours indicates that there is a lack of understanding of the interplay between awareness and risk perceptions and help-seeking intentions among young women.
Although there has been growing emphasis on breast cancer awareness and the adoption of cancer preventive health behaviour in the current public health literature, few context-specific studies exist examining the association between early-onset breast cancer awareness and risk perception and help-seeking intentions among young women in low-resource settings. Afaya et al. (2024) and Adejoh et al. (2024) highlighted the importance of the role of the sociocultural and environmental context to the formation of health behaviour constructs and called for local investigations. Elamin et al. (2025) also reported that some differences in awareness and behavioural intentions need to be clarified in particular population groups to enable effective interventions. Evidence is still lacking on the interconnection of these variables among the youth women in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State. This study is therefore designed to fill this void by evaluating the awareness of early onset breast cancer, risk perceptions and help-seeking intentions and to provide information to guide targeted health promotion interventions, policy making and community-based interventions.
1.3 Objectives of the study
The main objective of this study is to assess awareness of early-onset breast cancer, risk perceptions, and help-seeking intentions among young women in selected communities in Jos North, Plateau State, Nigeria.  The specific objectives are to: 
1.Assess the level of awareness of early-onset breast cancer among young women in selected communities in Jos North Local Government Area.
2.Examine the perceptions of young women regarding early-onset breast cancer in selected communities in Jos North Local Government Area.
3.Assess the level of risk perception of early-onset breast cancer among young women in selected communities in Jos North Local Government Area.
4.Determine the help-seeking intentions of young women following the identification of symptoms suggestive of early-onset breast cancer in selected communities in Jos North Local Government Area.
Other parts of chapter one include:
1.4 Research questions
1.5 Hypotheses
1.6 Significance of Study
1.7 Scope of the Study
1.8 Operational Definition of Terms

CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF LITERATURE (Preview)
This chapter critically examines relevant literature that would assist in explaining the research problem and, furthermore, recognizes the efforts of scholars who had previously contributed immensely to similar research. The chapter intends to deepen the understanding of the study and close the perceived gaps. This chapter, therefore, focuses on the concept of breast cancer, the concept of early-onset breast cancer, awareness of early-onset breast cancer among young women, risk perceptions of breast cancer, factors influencing awareness and risk perceptions, help-seeking intentions among young women, and barriers to early detection and help-seeking behaviours etc. The chapter is sub-grouped into the following major headings:
2.1 Conceptual Framework
2.2 Theoretical Framework
2.3 Empirical Review
2.4 Summary of Literature Review

CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY (Preview)
Presented below is a snapshot of key areas of the study methodology, the full and detail chapter three methodology is contained in the instant download document.

Research Design: The study adopted a descriptive research design.
Population of the Study: The population of the study comprises young women within selected communities in Jos North Local Government Area, Plateau State, Nigeria.
Sample Size Determination: The study adopted the Taro Yamane formula to determine a sample size of 339 participants.
Sampling Technique: The study employed a multi-stage sampling technique involving stratified and convenience sampling methods to select the individual respondents.
Research Instrument: The study utilized a structured questionnaire titled "Awareness of Early-Onset Breast Cancer, Risk Perceptions, and Help-Seeking Intentions among Young Women in Selected Communities in Jos North, Plateau State, Nigeria" as the instrument for data collection.
Methods of Data Analysis: The collected data were analyzed using frequencies and percentages to summarize and present the demographic characteristics of the respondents and their opinions. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and presented in tables, charts, and graphs.
Full outline for chapter three;
3.1 Research Design
3.2 Research Setting
3.3 Target Population
3.4 Sample Size
3.5 Sampling Technique
3.6 Instruments For Data Collection
3.7 Validity and Reliability of Instrument
3.8 Pilot Study
3.9 Method of Data Collection
3.10 Method Of Data Analysis
3.11 Ethical considerations

CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
MAJOR FINDINGS (Preview)
The analysis results were presented in tables and charts. Based on the results obtained from the analysis, the following major findings were made:

i. The study found that young women in selected communities in Jos North Local Government Area demonstrated awareness of early-onset breast cancer, as evidenced by their responses, which showed that 60.0% were aware that breast cancer can occur in women below 30 years, 67.6% recognized breast lumps as an early sign of breast cancer, and 62.3% understood that family history can increase the risk of early-onset breast cancer. 

ii. The study found that young women had positive perceptions regarding early-onset breast cancer, as evidenced by the fact that 63.2% agreed that early detection improves the chances of successful treatment, 63.3% considered early medical attention for breast changes important, and 65.1% agreed that regular awareness and education can help young women recognize breast cancer symptoms early.

iii. The study found that young women demonstrated a considerable level of risk perception regarding early-onset breast cancer, as evidenced by the fact that 62.7% believed young women are at risk of developing early-onset breast cancer, 63.6% recognized family history as a risk factor, and 63.9% agreed that regular breast checks can help identify breast abnormalities early.

iv. The study found that young women demonstrated positive help-seeking intentions following the identification of symptoms suggestive of early-onset breast cancer, as evidenced by the fact that 65.1% indicated willingness to seek immediate medical attention when they noticed unusual breast changes, 65.4% were willing to discuss unusual breast symptoms with healthcare professionals, and 65.4% would encourage other young women to seek prompt medical help.

v. The study found that there is a significant relationship between the level of awareness and help-seeking intentions of young women regarding early-onset breast cancer in selected communities in Jos North Local Government Area. The corresponding hypothesis test further showed a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.462, t-value of 9.08, and p-value of 0.014 (p < 0.05), leading to the rejection of the null hypothesis.

vi. The study found that there is a significant relationship between the perceptions of young women and their help-seeking intentions regarding early-onset breast cancer in selected communities in Jos North Local Government Area. The corresponding hypothesis test further showed a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.538, t-value of 11.43, and p-value of 0.021 (p < 0.05), leading to the rejection of the null hypothesis.

vii. The study found that there is a significant relationship between risk perception of early-onset breast cancer and the help-seeking intentions of young women in selected communities in Jos North Local Government Area. The corresponding hypothesis test further showed a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.491, t-value of 10.12, and p-value of 0.018 (p < 0.05), leading to the rejection of the null hypothesis.

CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
This chapter covers the following outline:
5.1 Discussion of Findings 
5.2 Implication of the Findings
5.3 Limitations of the Study
5.4 Summary 
5.5 Conclusion
5.6 Recommendations
5.7 Suggestions for Further Studies
Reference
Appendix

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