An examination of variables associated with breast cancer early detection behaviors of women

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is a worldwide common public health problem, and it is quite important to know the factors preventing the early detection behaviors to fight against it. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to examine the effect of some sociodemographic variables associated with women's breast cancer detection behaviors and their breast cancer knowledge and fear levels. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted with 363 women aged 40–69 who had presented to Cancer Early Diagnosis and Education Centers (CEDEC). RESULTS: The average age of women is 54.8±7.1. The mean score of breast cancer knowledge (CBCKT) was found as 10.72±2.34, and the breast cancer fear score was found as 27.6±6.5. The percentage of women who regularly breast self-examination (BSE) was 17.4%, clinical breast examination (CBE) was 13.5% and mammography was 42.7%. BSE and having a higher education correlated 6.25-fold. A 6.5-fold correlation was found between BSE and having a family history of breast cancer, and a 6.24-fold correlation between BSE and having information about breast cancer. In CBE, the related variables that affected women receiving information 4.42 times and going to CEDEC 5.3 times. It was found that employment (4.58) of women affected the mammography detection behavior mostly. While women's CBCKT score affected BSE behavior 1.16 times, fear of breast cancer was a variable that affected mammography behavior 2.1 times. It was determined that high CBCKT scores of women increased BSE behaviors 1.16 times, and high breast cancer fear scores increased mammography behavior 2.1 times. CONCLUSIONS: Early detection practices of women are not sufficient in our study. An increase in the knowledge level of women and consideration of the variables determined to be effective in early detection behaviors will allow increasing detection behavior.