Breast Cancer Awareness among Saudi Females in Jeddah

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most frequent malignancy of women worldwide. It is the leading cause of female cancerrelated disability and mortality. In Saudi Arabia breast cancer ranks first among cancerous diseases in females.In the Gulf region, and especially in Saudi Arabia, few studies have been conducted to address breast cancerawareness. The purpose of the current study was therefore to investigate the level of breast cancer awarenessamong Saudi females in Jeddah, focusing on knowledge of breast cancer warning signs, risk factors, screeningprograms and breast self-examination (BSE). The design of this study was an exploratory correlational analysis.The sample comprised 200 Saudi females aged 20 and older living in Jeddah. Data were collected using face-tofaceinterviews. Breast cancer awareness was measured using a modified Arabic version of the Breast CancerAwareness Measure (Breast CAM) version 2. Descriptive statistical analysis, Pearson’s Product Momentcorrelation coefficients and ANOVA test were used to answer study questions. Out of 200 participants, 50.5%were aware of breast lump as a warning sign of breast cancer, 57.5% claimed that family history was riskfactor, 20.5% had undergone breast screening, 79% heard about BSE, and 47.5% knew how to perform BSE.Findings indicated that Saudi females level of awareness of breast cancer is very inadequate. Public awarenessi nterventions are needed in order to overcome an ever-increasing burden of this disease among Saudi females.