Understanding the role of the husband in supporting early detection, diagnosis, and treatment for breast cancer patients in Northern Tanzania: a qualitative study.

Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer related morbidity and mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa with women often being diagnosed at advanced stages of disease. Little is known about how the role of the husband impacts the diagnosis and treatment of women with breast cancer. In this study, we aimed to describe the role of the husband in the experiences of breast cancer patients in Tanzania.We conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews with breast cancer patients (n = 20), physicians (n = 10), nurses (n = 10), and traditional healers (n = 18) exploring perceptions of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in Tanzania. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and subsequently coded by three independent reviewers. Emergent themes were identified using thematic analysis approach.We identified two distinct domains from responses: supportive husbands and unsupportive husbands. Within these domains, 5 supportive and 4 unsupportive themes were identified. Supportive husbands provided financial assistance, encouraged early treatment, adopted a caregiver role, displayed leadership in decision-making, and provided emotional support. Unsupportive husbands displayed stigma and shame, refused financial support, and resorted to rejection and abandonment which ultimately led to delays in diagnosis and treatment.Majority of patients, providers, and traditional healers described unsupportive husbands as a component contributing to the delayed presentation and negative experiences of patients. We inferred that spousal financial concerns and societal stigma often drove husband rejection, which resulted in a lack of emotional and financial support for patients and contributed to delays in diagnosis and treatment. Improvements in husband education and communication may reduce stigma and misconceptions regarding breast cancer and may help increase the number of supportive husbands.