Attitude and Practice of Females Referring to Khatam Al-Anbia Comprehensive Health Center towards Breast Cancer and its Screening Methods: A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study in Jahrom, during 2020

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies in females and the leading cause of death among this population worldwide. This study aimed to determine the attitude and practice of females referring to Khatam al-Anbia comprehensive health center toward breast cancer and its screening methods in Jahrom, Iran.

This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 311 females (age range: 20-60) who were selected using the convenience sampling method in Jahrom, Iran, during 2020. The data were collected using the standard attitude and practice questionnaire toward breast cancer and screening methods. Subsequently, data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 21) through descriptive and inferential statistical tests.

In total, 50.2% of the females were under 40 years of age, and 96.5% of the women had negative attitudes towards breast cancer and screening methods. There was no significant relationship between demographic characteristics and women's attitudes towards breast cancer and screening methods. Furthermore, 62.4% of the cases performed breast self-examination, and 37.4% of them performed it monthly. Moreover, 48.4% of the women had schedules to undergo mammography. The time intervals in 54.3% of the women for mammography were every few years (three years).

The majority of the participants in this study had a negative attitude towards breast cancer screening tests. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the attitudes of Iranian women by increasing awareness. This can help enhance breast self-examination and other methods of breast cancer screening, which leads to early diagnosis and timely treatment of this disease.