Beliefs and attitudes about breast cancer and screening practices among Arab women living in Qatar: a cross-sectional study

BMC Women's Health

Research Article

Mohamed Ghaith Al Kuwari¹  Al-Hareth Al Khater²  Nabila Al-Meer²  Rajvir Singh²  Salha Bujassoum Al-Bader²  Mariam Malik³  Sofia Chaudhry⁴  Tak Fung⁵  Tam Truong Donnelly⁶ 

[1] Aspetar, P.O. Box 29222, Doha, Qatar;Hamad Medical Corporation, Hamad General Hospital, P.O. Box 3050, Doha, Qatar;Primary Health Care Corporation, P.O. Box 26555, Doha, Qatar;University of Calgary – Qatar, Al Rayyan Campus, P.O. Box 23133, Al Forousiya Road, Doha, Qatar;University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. NW, T2N 1 N4, Calgary, Alberta, Canada;University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. NW, T2N 1 N4, Calgary, Alberta, Canada;University of Calgary – Qatar, Al Rayyan Campus, P.O. Box 23133, Al Forousiya Road, Doha, Qatar;

关键词: Qatari women;    Breast cancer screening;    Breast self-examination;    Clinical breast examination;    Mammogram;    Arab women;    Beliefs and attitudes;    Breast cancer in the Middle East;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1472-6874-13-49

 received in 2013-02-22, accepted in 2013-11-28,  发布年份 2013

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundDespite rising breast cancer incidence and mortality rates, breast cancer screening (BCS) rates among women in Qatar remain low. Previous studies indicate the need to better understand the many complex beliefs, values, and attitudes that influence Arab women’s health seeking behavior for the development of culturally appropriate and effective intervention strategies to address breast cancer in the Middle East. This study investigates beliefs, attitudes, and BCS practices of Arabic-speaking women in Qatar.MethodsA multicenter, cross-sectional quantitative survey of 1,063 (87.5% response rate) Arabic-speaking female Qatari citizens and non-Qatari residents, 35 years of age or older, was conducted in Qatar from March 2011 to July 2011. Associations between beliefs and BCS practice were estimated using chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Participants who adhered to BCS guidelines (BCS practice = Yes) were compared to those who did not (BCS practice = No).ResultsIn addition to low levels of awareness and low participation rates in BCS, one quarter of the participants stated their doctors talked to them about breast cancer, and less than half of the women interviewed believed breast cancer can be prevented. Women who engaged in BCS practice were more likely to have a doctor who talked to them about breast cancer, to believe they were in good–excellent health, that cancer can be prevented, or that cancer might be hereditary. The majority wanted to know if they had cancer and felt their health care needs were being met. The main reasons given for not planning BCS were lack of a doctor’s recommendation, fear, and embarrassment.ConclusionsThese findings indicate that a variety of channels (health care providers, media, breast cancer survivors, community leaders) should be utilized to create culturally appropriate breast cancer intervention programs and increased awareness of breast cancer, BCS, and the benefits of early detection of breast cancer. Employment of these measures will reduce breast cancer mortality rates among Arabic-speaking women living in the State of Qatar.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Donnelly et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2013