Barriers to breast cancer screening among women employed at Assiut university, Egypt

Abstract EN

Breast cancer disease ranks first among women's cancers and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among women in Egypt and worldwide.

The best approach to minimize its complications is screening.

Screening programs for early diagnosis exist in most of the developed countries, but are evolving slowly in 'low income settings' as are most of the developing countries.

Understanding the ultimate customer 'women's attitudes and believes' is essential for successful implementation of such programs.

The objective of this study is to identify the attitude, and actual practice of mammography among women in Assiut.

A cross- sectional survey of 421 women working in Assiut University was undertaken in 2002-2003.

Although women had a positive attitude towards having a mammography following doctor advice, the actual practice was extremely low (5.9%).

Positive family history of breast cancer disease, and past history of breast pathology were associated with mammography.

Psychological, social and economic factors were identified barriers to adopt the practice.