Coping Strategies and Generalized Anxiety Disorder among Female Breast Cancer Patients in Kano, Northwestern Nigeria

Abstract

Context/Aim: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women in Nigeria and is often diagnosed at advanced stages. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is common among patients, but the role of coping strategies remains poorly understood in Northwestern Nigeria. This study assessed the prevalence of GAD and its association with coping strategies among female breast cancer patients in Kano.

Materials and Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted between September 2023 and February 2024 at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital and Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano. Using systematic sampling, 240 adult female patients with histologically confirmed breast cancer were recruited. Coping strategies were assessed with the Brief COPE Inventory and categorised as good (adaptive) or poor (maladaptive). GAD was diagnosed using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI-7). Data were analysed using SPSS version 21, with a chi-square test used to assess association at p < 0.05.

Results: The overall prevalence of GAD was 21.3% (51/240). Good coping strategies were used by 87.1% (209/240) of participants, while 12.9% (31/240) used poor coping strategies. GAD prevalence was similar in both groups: 21.1% (44/209) among those with good coping and 22.6% (7/31) among those with poor coping. There was no statistically significant association between coping category and GAD (χ² = 0.038, p = 0.846).

Conclusion: Approximately one in five female breast cancer patients in Kano had generalised anxiety disorder. Coping strategies measured by the Brief COPE were not significantly associated with GAD in this setting. Routine screening for anxiety and culturally appropriate psychosocial support should be integrated into breast cancer care in Northwestern Nigeria.