Knowledge of Women from Basrah about Breast Cancer: Its Risk and Preventive Factors

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is very common in Basrah, Iraq and at global level. To assist in the control measures of breast cancer, good knowledge of women about certain aspects of the disease is essential and needs enhancement. Objective: To explore the extent to which women have knowledge of breast self-examination (BSE), mammography, risk factors, and preventive measures for breast cancer. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 300 women in Basrah was conducted. The data collection form was used to interview participants from attendants of breast cancer early detection clinic, primary health care centers, and a private clinic. The data covered demographic characteristics of the women, their knowledge of BSE, mammography, risk factors, and preventive factors. The data were fed into the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS-Version 26). The results were expressed as frequency and cross tabulation. The Chi-squared test (or Fisher Exact Test) was used to examine the association between the groups, and a p-value of ≤ 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: Of the 300 participating women, 61.7% were married, 41.7% had secondary and higher level of education, and 75.6% were of the age of 30 and above. Family history as a risk factor for breast cancer was reported by 16.7% of the participants. About 90.3% of the participants had knowledge of BSE; however, only 42% knew about mammography. Only 38.3% and 11.3% of the participants had performed self-examination and mammography screening, respectively. In general, this study’s results revealed a moderate level of knowledge and practice. Conclusion: A tangible gap in knowledge is evident and demands effective an health-education program to support breast cancer control efforts. Keywords: Breast cancer, Breast self-examination, Risk factor KAP study