Addressing Factors Associated with Arab Women’s Socioeconomic Status May Reduce Breast Cancer Mortality: Report from a Well Resourced Middle Eastern Country

Abstract

Differences in socioeconomic status (SES) such as income levels may partly explain why breast cancerscreening (BCS) disparities exist in countries where health care services are free or heavily subsidized. However,factors that contribute to such differences in SES among women living in well resourced Middle East countriesare not fully understood. This quantitative study investigated factors that influence SES and BCS of Arabwomen. Understanding of such factors can be useful for the development of effective intervention strategiesthat aim to increase BCS uptake among Arab women. Using data from a cross-sectional survey among 1,063Arabic-speaking women in Qatar, age 35+, additional data analysis was performed to determine the relationshipbetween socioeconomic indicators such as income and other factors in relation to BCS activities. This study foundthat income is determined and influenced by education level, occupation, nationality, years of residence in thecountry, level of social activity, self-perceived health status, and living area. Financial stress, unemployment,and unfavorable social conditions may impede women’s participation in BCS activities in well resourced MiddleEast countries.