Document Type : Research Articles
Authors
1
Department of Public Health Practice, College of Public Health, Health Sciences Center, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait.
2
Nuclear Medicine Department, Farwaniya Hospital, Ministry of Health, Kuwait City, Kuwait.
Abstract
Background: Breast cancer is the leading malignancy among women in Kuwait. The Kuwait National Mammography Screening Program (KNMSP), launched in 2014, provides free biennial mammography to asymptomatic women aged 40–69 years; however, participation remains persistently low and awareness is insufficiently characterized. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of KNMSP awareness and identify its independent predictors across sociodemographic, knowledge, behavioral, and attitudinal domains. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among 458 women aged ≥20 years residing across all six governorates of Kuwait between January and April 2025, using convenience sampling via social media and community networks. Of 516 women who accessed the questionnaire, 458 met eligibility criteria and completed all items (response rate 88.7%). Standardized validated instruments assessed breast cancer warning-sign knowledge, risk-factor knowledge, screening beliefs, and perceived barriers. Hierarchical multivariable logistic regression identified independent predictors of KNMSP awareness. Results: Overall, 65.3% of participants (n = 299) reported awareness of the KNMSP. In the final adjusted model (Nagelkerke R² = 0.355; AUC = 0.798), knowledge of breast self-examination (BSE) was the strongest independent predictor (OR = 3.60; 95% CI 1.87–6.93; p < 0.001). Women aged 20–29 years (OR = 0.29), unpartnered women (OR = 0.40), and non-Kuwaiti women (OR = 0.47) had significantly lower adjusted odds of awareness. Perceived barriers and screening beliefs were not independently associated with awareness. Conclusions: Two-thirds of women in Kuwait are aware of the KNMSP; however, substantial gaps persist among younger, unpartnered, and non-Kuwaiti women. Integrating BSE education into outreach initiatives, strengthening primary-care referral, and developing multilingual campaigns targeting high-gap subgroups are priority actions to improve program visibility and, ultimately, screening uptake.
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