Abstract

Aim of Study: To assess the awareness level of women about breast cancer as a major threat to women’s health and the importance of its early detection.

Methods: This study followed a cross-sectional research design, which included 400 adult Saudi women, without breast cancer, who live in Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia. An online study questionnaire was developed in a simple Arabic language. It comprised participants’ personal characteristics; their awareness about breast cancer; assessment of risk factors for breast cancer; and their attitude and screening practices for breast cancer.

Results: Only 59.4% of the participants were aware that breast cancer could be inherited in some families. The majority of the participants (78%) were aware that breastfeeding could protect against breast cancer. Early menarche and late menopause were recognized as risk factors for breast cancer by only 13.5% and 21.3% of the respondents respectively. Similarly, only 24.3% of the respondents answered correctly that the late age of first full-term pregnancy is a risk factor for breast cancer. More than half of the respondents (54.5%) were aware that hormonal replacement therapy is a risk factor for breast cancer. Women who had higher levels of education showed significantly more sufficient knowledge regarding breast cancer risk factors compared to those who were illiterate (48.2% versus 16.4%, P<0.001). The majority of women, 91.5%, who have heard of BSE, recognized that it should bedone to search for tumours, while only 37.8%, 18.5%, and 27.4% recognized that the objective of BSE is to look for nipple discharge, nipple changes, and changes in the skin of the breast, respectively. Most of the participants in the 18-30 years age group (76.0%) have heard of BSE as compared to only 13.5% of those aged over 50. This association between women’s ages and hearing of BSE was statistically significant (P<0.001). The majority of non-married women have heard of BSE (82.9%) as opposed to 53.1% of married women (P<0.001). More employed women have heard of BSE than non-employed women (81.0% vs. 54.0%, p<0.001). More women with a university education have heard of BSE than those who are illiterate and those who have a school education (79.8% vs. 18.2% and 62.5% respectively, P<0.001).

Conclusions: Knowledge levels of adult Saudi women in Aseer Region about breast cancer risk factors and screening methods are suboptimal. The awareness and practice of BSE among them is generally poor. Primary healthcare professionals have a limited role in educating women regarding breast cancer issues.

Key Words: Awareness, attitude, practice, Women, Early detection of breast cancer, Saudi Arabia.