International Journal of Medical Research & Health Sciences
  • Year: 2018
  • Volume: 7
  • Issue: 1

Assessment of Knowledge and Perception towards Breast Cancer Prevention and Early Detection

  • Author:
  • Saleh Hadi Alharbi1, Fayez Saud Alreshidi2, Ibrahim A. Bin Ahmed1, Ali Ghannam Alrashidi2, Sami Awejan Alrashedi2, Kalaf Jaze Kalaf Alshammeri2, Hussain Gadelkarim Ahmed2,
  • Total Page Count: 12
  • Page Number: 65 to 76

1Faculty of Medicine, Al-Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

2College of Medicine, University of Hail, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

*Corresponding e-mail: hussaingad1972@yahoo.com

Online published on 19 November, 2018.

Abstract

Breast cancer was the ninth leading cause of mortality for women in Saudi Arabia, and to reduce the burden of this disease appropriate information about breast cancer and its’ early detection measures are highly needed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and perception of Northern Saudi Arabia people towards breast cancer prevention and early detection.

In this cross sectional descriptive study, data about breast cancer were obtained from 566 Saudi volunteers living in the city of Hail, Saudi Arabia.

When the level of individual's knowledge about breast cancer was assessed, the majority of the study subjects were found with good knowledge followed by moderate and poor representing 187 (34.3%), 170 (31.2%) and 86 (15.8%), respectively. For females, most of them were found with good knowledge followed by moderate and poor constituting 142 (36.1%), 111 (28.2%) and 62 (15.8%), respectively.

The findings of the present study have delivered evidence that women in Northern Saudi Arabia lack appropriate information about breast cancer and its’ early detection measures.

Keywords

Breast cancer, Awareness, Breast self-examination, Mammography