Women's Knowledge and Concern about Breast Cancer

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumor among women and the second most common type of cancer after lung cancer, 10.4% of all cancer incidences, and the fifth most of cancer deaths. Breast cancer is the top cancer in Iraqi's women, comprising about 34% of all females cancer, and it is the second leading cause of cancer related to mortality in women today after lung cancer. In Iraq, breast cancer constitute about one third of total cancer.

Objectives: To assess women's knowledge and concern about breast cancer and to identify the relationships between women's knowledge to demographic data and to reproductive profile.

Methodology: Design: A cross section of a purposive study was carried out at Al-Sadder Medical City- Center of breast examination for early detection of breast cancer in Najaf Province, in the period of February 15^th to April 30^th -2012. Sampling: A purposive sample of 100 women were interviewed. Tools: Questionnaire format was designed into 5 parts for data collection through interviewing of the attended women with breast cancer to contain the:
Demographic profile; Reproductive profile; Risk factors of breast cancer; resources of women's knowledge; Item's statements about women's knowledge. The data were statistically analyzed through
1. Descriptive statistical method
2. Inferential statistical method.

Results: The present results found that 75% of women's age were of 45-54 years. Most of them were with (primary educational level or less; housewives with a moderate socioeconomic status).

Conclusions: The study concludes that aged women had the most incidences of breast cancer, P. <0.001. The
incidences of breast cancer to none pregnant or delivered women; medical history; and to family history with breast cancer were increased, P.< 0.05.

Recommendations: 1. Establishing of educational health programs for women concerning breast cancer 2. Improving of nurse's knowledge on advising and teaching of women about breast self examination. 3. Encouraging of breast cancer studies.