Knowledge and perception of breast cancer and practice of breast self-examination among female patients attending primary health care centers in Al Khobar City, Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

To assess the knowledge of risk factors and screening methods for breast cancer, perception of the disease, and practice of breast self-examination [BSE] among female patients attending Primary Health Care Centers [PHCCs] in Al-Khobar city, Saudi Arabia. Descriptive cross-sectional study using interviewbased questionnaires. Primary Health Care Centers. Six hundred Saudi and non-Saudi Arabic speaking females aged 25 years or more. Level of knowledge and perception of breast cancer; proportion of women practicing BSE. Forty-eight percent women had poor knowledge about breast cancer. Around 85% women recognized postmenopausal hormone therapy, period of breast feeding and smoking to be risk factors for breast cancer. Only 25% women knew that mammogram is the best screening method. Almost half [49.2%] of participants were seriously concerned about getting breast cancer. In the multiple regression analysis, age, education and occupation of women were significant positive predictors of level of knowledge [p < 0.05]. Television was the most important source of knowledge [44.1%]. BSE was practiced by 44.6% women. Logistic regression analysis showed that practice of BSE in women was more likely with increasing age, educational level and knowledge scores as well as in homemakers and health-care workers [p < 0.05]. The study showed that a substantially high proportion [48%] of female PHCC attendees had knowledge deficits regarding breast cancer. BSE was not being practiced by 55.4% women. There is a need to target women for educational programs on breast cancer particularly through PHCCs