Volume 26, Issue 121, March 2022

Knowledge and attitude of adult females regarding breast cancer and its early detection in Alqunfudhah district: A cross sectional community based study

Safa Alkalash^1,2♦, Maryam Alzubaidi³, Ghadeer Alqarni³, Hala Alzubaidi³, Laila Alamri³, Gadi Alqarni³

¹Department of Community Medicine and Health care, Al Qunfudhah College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Qunfudhah city, 28013, KSA
²Department of family medicine, Faculty of medicine, Menoufia University, Menoufia Governorate , Shebeen Alkoom city, 32511, Egypt
³AlQunfudhah College of medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, AlQunfudhah city, 28013, KSA

^♦Corresponding author
Assistant professor of family medicine, Al Qunfudhah College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, KSA, and Menoufia University, Egypt

ABSTRACT

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the commonest cancer among Saudi women. Awareness about its screening among females is a crucial issue for early detection of breast abnormalities and interference to reduce its complications. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted on a sample of 421 adult females in Alqunfudhah district. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire to assess their knowledge and attitude towards breast cancer screening. Results: A total of 421 females responded to survey 83.4%, 63.4 % and 44.4% of them respectively knew about breast self-examinations, clinical examinations, and mammography. Most information was from media (67.9%). The commonest risk factor was family history (88.1%) while occurrence of a breast mass was the most identified warning sign (96.9%). Good knowledge was significantly higher among highly educated females (P 0.008) and whose high family income (P 0.000) whiles their positive attitude was significantly higher among younger females (P 0.003). Conclusion: Females' knowledge and attitude towards breast cancer screening were not up to expected and this indicated necessity to promote breast cancer screening by intensifying educational campaigns and increasing screening programs.

Keywords: Attitude, Breast cancer, Knowledge, Screening.

Medical Science, 2022, 26, ms94e2129

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi/v26i121/ms94e2129

Published: 08 March 2022