Evaluation Knowledge, Attitude, and Behaviour for Breast Cancer among Young Women Living in Two Different Habitats of Turkey

Üçüncü, Muhammed Zübeyr; Üçüncü, Merve Müge; Toprak, Dilek

doi:10.31557/APJCP.2018.19.11.3179

Evaluation Knowledge, Attitude, and Behaviour for Breast Cancer among Young Women Living in Two Different Habitats of Turkey

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

¹ Florence Nightingale Surgery Department, Istanbul, Türkiye.

² Istanbul Gelisim University, Türkiye.

³ Ortakoy Beltas Family Health Center, İstanbul, Turkey.

⁴ Namık Kemal University Family Medicine Department, Tekirdağ, Türkiye.

10.31557/APJCP.2018.19.11.3179

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women in Turkey and worldwide,
and is ranked as the second-leading cause of death in women after lung cancer. Early diagnosis of breast cancer is
possible, and breast cancer is included in cancer-screening programs in Turkey. The aim of this study was to evaluate
the knowledge, attitude, and behaviour of young women (older than 20 years of age) on breast self-examination and
breast cancer screening methods, and to determine the effect of sociodemographic characteristics. Methods: A total
of 489 patients were included in the study. The mean age of participants was 36.53 ± 11.22 years. 346 (70.8%) of the
participants were married. The study was a cross-sectional, non-randomized study in public health. The participants in
this study were women over 20 years old, who presented to Arnavutkoy State Hospital General surgery policlinic and
Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Family Medicine policlinic. Results: The rate and duration of breastfeeding were higher among
participants living in rural areas than those living in urban areas (p<0.001) The awareness of breast cancer increased as
the level of education increased (p<0.001). Having a family history of a high incidence of breast cancer significantly
increased the rate of breast self examination practice by 1.93 fold (p=0.016). Conclusion: Breast Cancer is a disease
that can be treated 100 % with early diagnosis. Primary care physicians especially works in lower socioeconomic
conditions have to tell the importance of early diagnosis of breast cancer, and properly explain breast self examination
and other screening tools.

Keywords

Main Subjects