Investigating attitudinal barriers to breast cancer mammography screening among women in Zabol city

Abstract

Based on the lack of acceptance of screening programs, including breast cancer screening, and cultural-social and economic differences in different regions of our country, the purpose of this research is to determine the attitudinal barriers to breast cancer mammographic screening among women of Zabol city. The study method is cross-sectional and descriptive-analytical. The statistical population includes 200 women aged over 40 years in Zabol city in 2020 who have not had mammography and were selected by census. The standard questionnaire of professional ethics criteria was used to collect research data. The study data were analyzed using SPSS software. In this study, 200 women were questioned. 5% of women were single and 85.5% were married. 56% of the surveyed women were housewives and 82% employed. 13.5% of women were illiterate and 44.5% university education. The most frequent attitudinal barriers among women were related to the barrier "not having breast cancer symptoms" and "mammography performed by male staff and physicians" so that these two factors were agreed by 75.5% and 49.5% of women, respectively. On the other hand, the lowest frequency of the above factors is related to the three factors "The lack of diagnostic significance of mammography in early cancer diagnosis" with 6% agree and completely agree, and "Not trusting mammography" and "Not trusting national policies and guidelines” with 9% agree and completely agree. Our study revealed the most important factors of reducing motivation among women in the Sistan region regarding mammography. Also, this study showed that women's employment, education and economic status can be effective in their attitude towards mammography.

Keywords

• breast cancer
• ductal epithelial cells
• malignancy
• mammography
• neoplastic disease