Mammography Screening Utilization Behavior among Egyptian Female Employees in Alexandria

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer (BC) has become a health priority due to its increasing incidence. It is curable when detected at an early stage, so there is an urgent need for its early detection. Mammography screening (MS) is the main recommended test for early detection of BC. Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess MS utilization behavior among female employees and to identify some factors based on the Health Belief Model that determines the likelihood of MS utilization behavior in terms of: health beliefs, knowledge about BC and its risk factors, and access and need for MS. Methods: The study was conducted among 400 female employees aged 40 years and older in four workplace sectors in Alexandria using a cross sectional approach. A predesigned interview questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic data, habits, reproductive history, family history, culture affiliation, access to MS, reproductive health screening behavior, MS utilization behavior, need for MS, knowledge about BC and MS, perceptions towards BC and MS, perceived threat (susceptibility and severity), perceived benefits and perceived barriers to MS, (personal barriers, economic barriers, health care system barriers). Results: More than two thirds of females (69.7%) had bad MS utilization. Seventy two percent of females had poor knowledge about BC protective factors, signs and symptoms and risk factors of BC and about MS. The perception of the studied females was high concerning susceptibility and seriousness of BC and benefits of screening but there were some perceived personal, economic and health care system barriers to MS. Multiple linear regression analysis of the factors predicting MS utilization shows that age, accessibility, perceived need, total knowledge of BC, MS, and occupation sector were the significant predictors. Conclusion: The majority of female employees had poor knowledge about BC and MS. Increasing the females' knowledge about BC and accessibility to screening areas are important strategies influencing their decisions about whether or not to participate in cancer preventive practices.

Factors Influencing the Uptake of Breast Cancer Screening Services among Women of Reproductive Age: A Case Study of Turbo Sub-county, Kenya

“…Additionally, our findings indicated short distances to health facilities increased the odds of BC screening by 3.2. Consistently, these findings concur with Salama [29], Diab, et al [21], and Ondimu [25] who established uptake of BC screening services was higher in women who accessed BC screening services when compared to those who did not. This was attributed to expenses influenced by the distance between the residence and the screening unit.…”

“…Similarly, Antabe, [12] had found that women in the highest wealth quantile were 1.33 times more likely to undergo BC screening services compared to those in the lowest wealth quantile. However, research carried out in France and Nigeria found no difference between women with high income and those with low income in regard to uptake of BC screening services [21,22].…”

“…One of the in-depth participants stressed: "Lack of information. If doctors and nurses could educate us on what we are supposed to do as mothers, where to get these services, the importance of seeking them, how to do a SBE, general knowledge on breast cancer and screening services, it will assist greatly" (R2, [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29]FGD2).…”