Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice of Women towards Breast Cancer and Its Screening: Babol City, Iran – ۲۰۱۷

Background and purpose: Considering the high prevalence and the reduction of the age of breast cancer in Iran, the present study was conducted to survey women's knowledge, attitude and practice about breast cancer and its screening tests in Babol city. Materials and Methods: In a cross-sectional study, ۳۰۴ women aged ۲۰-۶۵ years (in Hashemi Healthcare Centre affiliated to Babol University of Medical Sciences) who were selected through random sampling were studied over a period of six months in ۲۰۱۷. Data collection was carried out using a standard questionnaire including demographic variables, ۱۲ questions about knowledge, ۱۵ questions about attitude, and ۲ questions about practice. The collected data were then analyzed using SPSS (V: ۲۲) by ANOVA, chi-square, and correlation coefficient. Results: The mean age of the participants was ۴۳.۳ ± ۱۰.۴ years. ۲۲.۳% of the participants had a good knowledge, and ۶۱.۸% had a positive attitude. Only ۱۷.۱% undertook screening examinations. There was also a significant relationship between age and education level with knowledge, attitude, and practice of women (P <۰.۰۰۱). However, there was found no significant relationship between the presence of cancer in relatives with knowledge (P=۰.۱۳۱), attitude (P=۰.۹۹۶), and practice of the women (P= ۰.۱۳۱). Conclusions: Increasing awareness about breast cancer is emphasized, especially in older women or the ones with lower education.

Keywords:

Breast Neoplasms , Breast Self-Examination , Health Knowledge , Attitudes , Practice