Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Around Breast Cancer and Mammography Screening Among Jordanian Women

Abstract

Background

Breast cancer is the most common occurring cancer in women worldwide. To guide current breast cancer screening program, the level of knowledge about breast cancer should be evaluated. This study aims to ascertain the level of breast cancer knowledge including risk factors, signs and symptoms, and early detection methods, especially mammography screening.

Methods

The study was conducted among 1353 Jordanian women from the public using a self-administered questionnaire. Responses to the knowledge test were summed for an overall knowledge score. Comparisons between socio-demographics and knowledge, attitude and practice were also measured using a Chi-square test.

Results

About 76% of participants were aware that breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Jordan. About 53.7% of our participants were rated as having an intermediate level of knowledge regarding risk factors, and 44% were rated as having a good to an excellent level of knowledge about breast cancer signs and symptoms. The participants’ level of education was the main factor identified as influencing the participants’ knowledge of the risk factors, signs and symptoms, and knowledge of early detection methods of breast cancer. The study sample was rated as having an intermediate level of knowledge regarding mammography screening; however, their participation in this screening method was low.

Conclusion

Although Jordanian women had an acceptable level of knowledge of breast cancer, the screening rates for mammography were low. These findings suggest that there is a need to provide extra awareness programs for Jordanian women to improve their breast cancer knowledge and practice.

Keywords:

• breast cancer
• knowledge
• breast cancer screening
• population health
• mammography
• Jordan

Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge Jordan University of Sciences and Technology for their research grant (number 20180392). Thanks also go to Mrs. Maria Aloqoul and Bayan Moksab for assisting in the research. We are grateful to the study participants for their involvement in this study.

Data Sharing Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Ethical Approval

This article does not contain any studies with animals performed by any of the authors. All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the Deanship of Scientific Research at Jordan University of Science and Technology and the Jordanian Ministry of Health (Project number 2018-392) and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Author Contributions

All authors made substantial contributions to conception and design, acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data; took part in drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content; agreed to submit to the current journal; gave final approval of the version to be published; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.