Cancer Screening Behaviors and Health Literacy Levels of Women aged 30 and over (preprint)

ABSTRACT

Purpose This study aimed to determine the cancer screening behaviors of women over 30 and the factors affecting them during the Covid-19 pandemic.Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted with 301 women aged 30 and over in Edirne, the border province in northwest Turkey. Study data were collected with the Personal Information Form and Turkiye Health Literacy Scale-32 (THL-32).Results The mean age of the participants was 43.66 ± 9.02; 65.1% were between the ages of 30–49, and 85% were married. 74.8% of the participants did not have a screening test during the pandemic. Women underwent breast examination (32.2%), pap smear test (21.9%), and fecal occult blood test (19.9%), respectively, with an attending physician. The mean health literacy score of the participants was 28.18 ± 7.55, and the majority (80.7%) were in the category of inadequate-limited health literacy. The mean health literacy score and breast cancer screening were statistically significant (p < 0.05).Conclusion The study group's participation status and health literacy levels in cancer screening tests were low. The COVID-19 pandemic period negatively affected the individuals' participation in screening tests.