Women's perspective on breast cancer screening: a cross-sectional observational study in the Southeast region / Perspectiva da mulher sobre o rastreio do câncer de mama: um estudo observacional transversal na região Sudeste

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the knowledge of women in the Southeast region about breast cancer and its forms of early detection. Methods: a semi-structured questionnaire filled out via an online platform was adopted, whose variables were related to women's knowledge about breast cancer screening. Results: When assessing the knowledge about which exam is most used for screening in relation to the age variable, the most relevant result was that the majority of the interviewees, 57.5%, chose the correct option, that is, mammography. The option that addressed self-examination as the screening technique was also quite selected: among women aged 18 to 25 years and 35 to 45 years, it was, respectively, 31.2% and 28.9%. From 26 to 34 years old, this assertion was even more expressive, that is, 53.4% of the interviewees. When evaluating the participants' knowledge about the age group at which the first mammogram should be performed, in the general population, only 6.2% of the total participants selected the option from 50 to 69 years and in relation to the frequency only 16 .6% of the total number of interviewees selected the correct option according to the Ministry of Health. Conclusion: The data obtained show that most of the interviewees have doubts about the national protocols for the early detection of breast cancer. The efforts of preventive medicine suggest encouraging information through public policies that help educate the population about prevention and health promotion techniques.