Timeliness of Breast Cancer Patients' Presentation to Health Care Facilities in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: Low breast cancer survival rates are often linked to late-stage diagnosis. The patient interval, the time between symptom detection and the first health care visit, is a key indicator of early diagnosis. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of patient delay and its associated factors in Ethiopia.

Methods: This systematic review used a combined approach of meta-analysis and meta-synthesis of quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. We adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guideline.

Results: Eleven studies that satisfied the eligibility criteria were included in the review. More than half (58.48%) of the patients with breast cancer delayed seeking medical help at health facilities, with a median delay time of 120 days. Presence of a painful breast ulcer/wounded mass (odds ratio [OR], 0.23 [95% CI, 0.09 to 0.58]), having swelling or a lump in the armpit (OR, 0.27 [95% CI, 0.15 to 0.46]), residing in urban area (OR, 0.27 [95% CI, 0.15 to 0.49]), and having a secondary school education or higher (OR, 0.28 [95% CI, 0.12 to 0.64]) were less likely to delay in seeking formal health care. However, patients who travel more than 5 km (OR, 6.33 [95% CI, 4.10 to 9.75]) were more likely to delay in our meta-analysis. Moreover, the meta-synthesis showed that the nature and progression of symptoms, symptom disclosure, social support, emotional responses, use of alternative therapies, misconceptions about breast cancer, financial limitations, accessibility issues, and other personal-environmental factors were associated with patient delay.

Conclusion: Nearly three fifths of patients with breast cancer delayed seeking health care at health facilities. Inaccessibility, low awareness, cultural beliefs, and socioeconomic factors contributed to these delays. Increasing public awareness, especially in rural areas, and improving health care access could encourage earlier presentation.