Prevalence of risk factors and the status of breast cancer risk perception in women aged ۱۸ to ۷۰ years in the north of Iran

Risk factors and avoiding Known risk factors can be effective in preventing the occurrence of breast cancer. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of risk factors and the status of breast cancer risk perception in women’s Babol City. This study is a cross-sectional study, the study population includes women aged ۱۸ to ۷۰ years old living in Babol. After explaining the objectives of the research by the trained staff and obtaining the satisfaction of the participants, anonymous questionnaires were completed by the subjects. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version ۲۰. The most common risk factors related to breast cancer respectively were old age (۳۰.۲%), obesity (۲۵.۸%), history of radiation (۱۰%), and history of breast cancer in first-degree families and relatives, (۹.۵%). Breast indentations, redness of breasts, pain, enlargement of lymph nodes, and breast asymmetry were observed in ۲۷ (۶.۷۵), ۱۵ (۳.۷۵), ۱۶ (۴%), ۲۰ (۵%), respectively. The mean and standard deviation of the breast cancer risk perception score was ۱۰۷.۷۲ ± ۱۳.۲۲. According to the results of the present study, most of the women under study had at least one risk factor for breast cancer. To prevent breast cancer and its complications, it is important to implement intervention programs to control obesity and also to implement breast cancer screening programs in obese and overweight women.

Keywords:

Breast cancer , Risk factors , Risk perception , Women