Women’s knowledge, attitudes and practice about breast cancer screening in the region of Monastir (Tunisia)

Abstract

Breast cancer remains a worldwide public health problem. In Tunisia, it is considered to be the primary women's cancer and causes high morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to investigate female knowledge, attitudes and practice of breast cancer screening in the region of Monastir (Tunisia). We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional design exploring knowledge, attitudes and practices of women in the region of Monastir on breast cancer screening. The study was conducted in health centres of this region from 1 March 2009 to 30 June 2009. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire containing 15 items on demographic status, knowledge of risk factors and screening methods and attitudes towards the relevance and effectiveness of breast cancer screening. A scoring scheme was used to score women's responses. A total of 900 women agreed to take part in the study. Their mean age was 41.6±12.4 years and 64% did not exceed the primary level of education. According to the constructed scores, 92% of participants had poor knowledge of the specific risk factors for breast cancer and 63.2% had poor knowledge of the screening methods. Proper practice of breast cancer screening was observed in 14.3% of cases. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that good knowledge of risk factors and screening methods, higher level of education and positive family history of breast cancer were independently correlated with breast cancer screening practice. This study revealed poor knowledge of breast cancer and the screening methods as well as low levels of practice of breast cancer screening among women in the region of Monastir. Results justify educational programs to raise women's adherence to breast cancer screening programs in Tunisia.

Are Women in Kuwait Aware of Breast Cancer and Its Diagnostic Procedures?

“…Such a result was lower than the one obtained from Malaysia (88%) (Al-Dubai et al, 2011) and higher than other studies carried out among school teachers (54.2%) (Alharbi et al, 2012) and in different regions of Saudi Arabia; Jeddah (57.5%) (Radi, 2013), Riyadh (39.1%) (Alam, 2006) and Hael (12.1%) (Hussein, 2013). Our results were in agreement with studies from other regions; Tunisia (72.6%) (El Mhamdi et al, 2013) and Abha in Saudi Arabia (74.4%) (Mahfouz et al, 2013). In Kuwait, it has always been believed that marriage with a first degree relative would increase the chance of the disease occurring.…”

“…These findings were in agreement with other studies (El Mhamdi et al, 2013;Radi, 2013). However this was higher than an Iranian group who scored only 6% and 5% for nipple discharge and nipple retraction, respectively (Montazeri et al, 2008).…”

“…This agreed with findings reported from different regions in Saudi Arabia, where 79% of the respondents were aware of the procedure (Alam, 2006;Radi, 2013). Other studies showed less awareness, such as Tunisia (53.4%) (El Mhamdi et al, 2013). Only 36% of the respondents in our study knew the correct procedure for BSE compared to a previous study in Kuwait of 29.0% (Alharbi et al, 2012), while more than half of the respondents (64%) had incorrect or no knowledge of the appropriate procedure.…”

“…Breast cancer can be detected using such modality (World Health Organization, 2013a). In comparison to other regions, Tunisia (35.4%) (El Mhamdi et al, 2013), Nigeria (40.5%) (Akinola et al, 2011) and Abha in Saudi Arabia (22.8%) (Mahfouz et al, 2013), our study shows that 58.8% of respondents agree that mammogram should be an early diagnostic tool used to diagnose breast tissue abnormalities. However, only 9.4% were aware of its side effects and 34.5% considered it as a yearly procedure.…”

Breast cancer: The perspective of Northern Nigerian women

“…Poor knowledge of preventive practices had been widely reported even among rural health workers. [ 6 13 35 36 ] Where knowledge had been relatively high it had always been among a very enlightened urban population. [ 23 35 37 ] This might be responsible for the abysmally poor level of practice observed not only in this study, but also in previous studies.…”