Author:
Sabah Kareem Al Hussaini and Hiba Ali Mahdi
Page: 229-237
Published online: 03 Nov 2021
https://doi.org/acerjmb.2021.229.237
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among females worldwide. Global statistics show the annual incidence of breast cancer is increasing and this is occurring more rapidly in countries with a low incidence rate of breast cancer. The incidence rate of breast cancer in the Middle Eastern countries is increasing. Arab women are diagnosed with breast cancer at younger ages., furthermore, the diagnosed cancer is achieved at more developed stages. Early detection of breast cancer plays a leading role in reducing mortality rates and improving the patient's prognosis. The recommended screening methods for early detection of this fatal disease are mammography, clinical breast examination and breast self‐examination. Breast cancer risk factors and risk reduction techniques must be well understood by women to prevent breast cancer in the first place. The following are known risk factors for breast cancer: women with a family history, age at menarche, gender, late menopause, not breast feeding, hormone replacement therapy with oral contraceptives, obesity, smoking and alcohol consumption. Some lifestyle choices, like breast feeding, controlling weight, exercising and abstaining from smoking, are considered protective. To find out how well‐informed Karbala city women are about risk factors for breast cancer and to look at their understanding and use of the BCS screening procedure. A cross‐sectional study. It was conducted in Al Hussein Teaching Hospital and two primary health care centers in Karbala city. The study samples include 400 women aged 20 years old and above. Females were randomly selected., clinical data were collected using specific questionnaire through direct interview with the participants who attending the selected premises between 25th February to 2nd of August 2016. Excluding criteria were: the critically ill patients, women who had a history of BC and female below 20 years old. Socio‐demographic characteristics of the participant: the mean age was 35.3±9.8 The highest proportion of participants (36%) were between age (30‐39) years old, age ranged from 20 at the minimum to 72 at the maximum. A great majority of participants (99.3%) heard about breast cancer three quarter think that the disease is prevalent in Iraq, (87%) of them considered it an early detectable disease. One‐quarter of participants had sources of information from (TV and Radio) while only (11.6%) of participant got information from physicians or nursing staff. Regarding breast self‐examination (70.8%) heard about BSE and early detection programs and (86.5%) of them said that BSE is necessary, but only (35.3%) practiced BSE while (50%) did not. Less than two‐thirds of participant women heard about mammography, but only (12%) know its recommended age so the overall awareness of the screening program and breast self‐examination among participants was fair. In general, the assessment of knowledge of breast cancer risk factors was fair. Women who practiced breast self‐examination were (35.3), the barrier was poor knowledge about the procedure, difficulty and time‐consuming, embarrassment, fear of finding a breast mass and examining my breasts is not necessary. I did not have any problem. Awareness about mammograms is fair, but the participant's knowledge about the right age for doing screening mammograms is weak. The most common risk factor of BC known by the participants is the presence of breast lumps. The majority of participants believe that breast trauma is a risk factor for breast cancer, although this is untrue.