Perception of Breast Cancer Screening among Iranian Women without Experience of Mammography: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Background: In Iran, there are high rates of breast cancer. It is among the five most common cancers, the first among cancers diagnosed, and is the leading cause of cancer deaths among Iranian women. Objectives: The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore perception of breast cancer screening among Iranian women who have never had a mammograph. Materials and Methods: The current study was part of a qualitative research conducted by means of content analysis method and purposive sampling of 16 women over the age of 30 years who had not undergone mammography using individual semi-structured interviews. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data were under continuous consideration and comparative analysis in order to achieve data saturation. Results: After codification of data, three concept categories were achieved including: i) low awareness, ii) worries, and iii) lack of motivation. Conclusions: Although there is a tendency among Iranian women to participate in breast cancer screening, there is a powerful cultural belief that breasts are sexual organs that should not be discussed publicly. Due to the incidence of breast cancer in Iranian women, it is critical that breast awareness education be performed by health care experts to explore the concepts of breast cancer and breast cancer screening.

Knowledge and Acceptance Towards Mammography as Breast Cancer Screening Tool Among Yogyakarta Women and Health Care Providers (Mammography Screening in Indonesia)

“…This study found several inhibiting factors for the mammography screening including high cost, limited access, and lack of urgency. A qualitative study conducted in Iran also found several inhibiting factors which are similar to our findings in addition to the public perception of the test being inessential and expensive and the lack of mammography centers [20]. Meanwhile, another study in Sweden revealed a different main inhibiting factor: the examination itself raised concerns about breast cancer [18].…”

Exploring breast cancer preventive lifestyle and social support of Iranian women: a study protocol for a mixed-methods approach

“…Multiple risk factors may enhance the odds of developing breast cancer, but lifestyle factors seem to have a larger impact on it. Prevention has been proposed as an effective method to reduce the burden of breast cancer [4, 5]. Furthermore, a health-promoting lifestyle has been recommended for breast cancer prevention [6].…”

Living under a cloud of threat: the experience of Iranian female caregivers with a first-degree relative with breast cancer

“…It is the most prevalent type of cancer afflicting Iranian women (24.85%) . Iranian women tend to be affected a decade earlier than women in developed countries; the most common age of diagnosis is 47 years . The high incidence of this cancer in Iran means that many families have members with breast cancer …”