Table 4 Comparison of patients according to the principal cause of delay
From: Factors influencing diagnosis delay of advanced breast cancer in Moroccan women
Symptoms not attributed to cancer (n = 53) | Traditional methods (n = 13) | Fear of cancer (n = 11) | System delay (n = 19) | P value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Social demographic characteristics of the patients | ||||||
Age at presentation (years) | Mean (±SD) | 47.74 ± 9.77 | 45.46 ± 9.56 | 44 ± 11.19 | 47.47 ± 10.4 | 0.852 |
Area of residence | Rural | 18 (34) | 12 (92.3) | 1 (9.1) | 4 (21.1) | 0.001 |
Urban | 35 (66) | 1 (7.7) | 10 (90.9) | 15 (78.9) | ||
Marital status | Single | 10 (18.9) | 3 (23.1) | 5 (45.4) | 5 (26.3) | 0.535 |
Married | 30 (56.6) | 9 (69.2) | 5 (45.4) | 10 (52.6) | ||
Widowed/Divorced | 13 (24.5) | 1 (7.7) | 1 (9.1) | 4 (21.1) | ||
Occupation | No occupation | 9 (17) | 3 (23.1) | 4 (36.4) | 4 (21.1) | 0.234 |
House wife | 41 (77.4) | 10 (76.9) | 5 (45.5) | 12 (63.2) | ||
Employed | 3 (5.7) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (18.2) | 3 (15.8) | ||
Patient educational level | Illiterate | 45 (84.9) | 13 (100) | 8 (72.7) | 15 (78.9) | 0.222 |
Literate | 8 (15.1) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (27.3) | 4 (21.1) | ||
Spouse educational level | Illiterate | 19 (63.3) | 9 (100) | 3 (60) | 5 (50) | 0.077 |
Literate | 11 (36.7) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (40) | 5 (50) | ||
Number of dependent children | None | 20 (37.7) | 5 (38.5) | 7 (63.6) | 8 (42.1) | 0.813 |
1–3 | 21 (39.6) | 5 (38.5) | 2 (18.2) | 8 (42.1) | ||
≥4 | 12 (22.6) | 3 (23.1) | 2 (18.2) | 3 (15.8) | ||
Number of dependents | None | 13 (24.5) | 3 (23.1) | 4 (36.4) | 5 (26.3) | 0.895 |
1–2 | 35 (66) | 9 (69.2) | 5 (45.5) | 12 (63.2) | ||
≥3 | 5 (9.4) | 1 (7.7) | 2 (18.2) | 2 (10.5) | ||
Distance from basic health center (km) | <5 | 42 (79.2) | 3 (23.1) | 9 (81.8) | 15 (78.9) | 0.001 |
≥5 | 11 (20.8) | 10 (76.9) | 2 (18.2) | 4 (21.1) | ||
Distance from specialized care (km) | <100 | 33 (62.3) | 0 (0.0) | 8 (72.7) | 14 (73.7) | <0.001 |
≥100 | 20 (37.7) | 13 (100) | 3 (27.3) | 5 (26.3) | ||
Medical history of the patients | ||||||
First clinical presentations | Lump | 31 (58.5) | 10 (76.9) | 7 (63.6) | 13 (68.4) | 0.655 |
Other | 22 (41.5) | 3 (23.1) | 4 (36.4) | 6 (31.6) | ||
Breast self-examination | No | 50 (94.3) | 13 (100) | 9 (81.8) | 7 (36.8) | <0.001 |
Yes | 3 (5.7) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (18.2) | 12 (63.2) | ||
Family history of breast cancer | No | 50 (94.3) | 12 (92.3) | 2 (18.2) | 11 (57.9) | <0.001 |
Yes | 3 (5.7) | 1 (7.7) | 9 (81.8) | 8 (42.1) | ||