Screening Strategies for the Detection of Breast Cancer: Correlating Knowledge and Practice of Women in Eastern Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background and Aims: Breast cancer is the most common cancer worldwide. It represents 30.1% of other diagnosed female cancers as per the cancer incidence report of Saudi Arabia (2015). The highest incidence of breast cancer was observed in the eastern province region. Breast self-examination (BSE) and mammograms are helpful to detect breast cancer at the earliest. This study aimed to determine the knowledge and practices of women about breast cancer screening. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the knowledge and practices of women attending primary healthcare centers (PHC) in eastern Saudi Arabia regarding breast cancer screening. Data was collected from women who were aged 20 years and above through direct interviews using a validated questionnaire and it was analyzed using SPSS. Frequency distributions and chi-square tests were used to describe the demographic data and associate the variables respectively, with (p<0.05) normality. Results: Out of 428 women, 62% were 41-60 years old, and most of them (84%) were married. Around 29% were unaware of breast cancer screening, 72% of women never did BSE, and 86% reported that they never had a mammogram. There was a significant association found between knowledge and age and education (p < 0.05). A positive correlation was found between knowledge of BSE and mammogram (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Even with the provision of free health services in Saudi, the practice of breast cancer screening was unsatisfactory. This alarm the focus to make awareness campaigns. The importance of early detection of breast cancer must be emphasized in every PHC centers continually.

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