Beliefs about Breast Cancer among Women in the Western Amazon: A Population-Based Study

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

1 National School of Public Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Postgraduate Program in Public Health and Environment, Brazil.

2 Federal University of Acre, Postgraduate Program in Public Health, Brazil.

Abstract

Objective: Evaluate the beliefs about the risk factors for breast cancer in a population of women from the western
Amazon and determine the factors associated with the higher belief scores presented by this population. Methods:
A population-based cross-sectional study included 478 women aged >40 years residing in Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil.
An American Cancer Society questionnaire was applied to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about breast
cancer. Results: The main beliefs about the risk factors for breast cancer were breast trauma (95%), use of underwire
bra (58.5%), and a high number of sexual partners (55.5%). Women from younger age groups presented higher belief
scores (Bcoefficient: –0.04, 95% CI: –0.07; –0.01) than those of women from older age groups. A strong association was
noted between high knowledge scores of risk factors and signs/symptoms of the disease and high belief scores in the
study group (Bcoefficient:0.33;95%CI:0.28;0.38). Conclusion: The results indicate the existence of important beliefs
related to the risk factors for breast cancer. Women from younger age groups, women who have seen a gynecologist in
the past 2 years, and women who had more knowledge about the risk factors and signs and symptoms of breast cancer
had higher belief scores.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
Volume 20, Issue 2
February 2019
Pages 469-478

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History

  • Receive Date: 15 May 2018
  • Revise Date: 11 December 2018
  • Accept Date: 28 January 2019

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