British Journal of Science 44 February 2012, Vol. 4 (1) © 2011 British Journals ISSN 2047-3745 Anxiety in Women Presenting for Mammography in Nigeria: Causes and Implications Mark C. Okeji 1 , Benjamin E. Udoh 2 , Ndubuisi O.Chiaghanam 3 1 Department of Medical Radiography and Radiological Sciences Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, Nigeria. 2 Department of Radiography and Radiological Science Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Nnewi Campus, Nigeria. 3 Department of Radiography, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria Dr. Mark C. Okeji E-mail: markokeji@yahoo.com Tel: 234-8039472126. Abstract The purpose of this study was to identify the causes of anxiety among women presenting for mammography in Nigeria and the ways of decreasing it during the procedure. Method: Two sets of questionnaires were constructed and shared to the women presenting for mammographic examination and to the mammographers. All the women who came for the examination and met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. All the questionnaires were completed and returned. Result: Most of the patients reported fear of pain, possible diagnostic outcome and the gender of the mammographer who will attend to them as the highest in the ranking of causes of anxiety. Also attitude of the mammographers were observed by the women to be contributory. Conclusion: The result of this study has revealed the causes of anxiety among women presenting for mammography in our locality. By appreciating these causes and addressing them many women 40 years and above will be encouraged to voluntarily undertake mammography in line with the recommendation of the American Cancer Society. Keywords: Mammography, Breast cancer, anxiety, Nigeria. 1. Introduction Breast cancer is one of the commonest malignant tumors in the world and is one of the leading causes of death due to cancer in women (Pisani et al., 1999). Mammographic screening has been the most effective means of reducing breast cancer mortality especially in women aged 50 to 69 years (Shapiro et al., 1982, Humphrey et al., 2002, Nystrom et al., 2002). Several studies on anxiety in mammography among Caucasians reported that it is related to fear of pain, discomfort during the procedure, mammographer’s attitude and the possible diagnostic outcome. (Nielson et al., 1993, Hafslund, 2000, Galleta et al., 2003). However, in some countries high cost of the procedure and inaccessibility to low income women have been implicated as major barriers towards large scale screening (Freeman and Wasfie 1989, Blanchard et al., 2004, Chen et al., 2004). In Nigeria there has not been a published study, to the best of our Knowledge, aimed at establishing the causes of anxiety among women presenting for mammography in view of the multi ethno- cultural and religious composition of the country.