Lived experiences of Ethiopian women post-mastectomy without reconstruction: findings and guidelines from a feminist phenomenological study

Abstract Purpose The lack of evidence-based knowledge about women’s experiences after mastectomy has serious implications for mastectomy-supportive care in the Ethiopian health system. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of women who had a mastectomy without reconstruction and consequently develop guidelines for healthcare providers to enhance supportive care. Methods This qualitative study is grounded in feminist values and Heidegger’s philosophy of existential phenomenology. It was conducted at St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, one of the largest hospitals in the country, which provides cancer care. Purposive sampling was used until saturation was reached. Thus, twenty women with an average survival time of 2 years who had undergone mastectomy without reconstruction were interviewed in-depth about their mastectomy experience. The data were analysed using interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) employing the ATLAS.ti 9 version qualitative data analysis software. Results Five themes emerged from the analysis of the interview data: body image and appearance-related concerns, psychological effects and social relationships, concerns about sexual function, healthcare-related experiences, and coping strategies. The findings of this study showed that women encounter ongoing challenges following breast cancer diagnosis and mastectomy that healthcare workers do not adequately address. Conclusion Consequently, the findings resulted in the development of guidelines to promote quality mastectomy care tailored to the needs of women who choose or are unable to undergo reconstruction. Policymakers, health care administrators, and professionals can use these guidelines as a resource for initiatives to improve supportive care for women who have had a mastectomy without reconstruction.