Knowledge, Attitude and Preventive Practice towards Breast Cancer among Women Visiting Public Health Facility, Saudi Arabia

Background: Breast cancer is the highest burden of disease in high and low income countries and it is the leading cause of disability and death. Knowledge is important predictor of breast cancer. The objective of this study is to determine the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding breast cancer among women visiting public health facilities in Hail, Saudi Arabia.

Method: It’s was a cross-sectional study in the leading public sector hospital and 127 study participants were selected through stratified random sampling technique. Validated and structured questionnaire used. Study participants who scored greater than or equal to mean valued were considered good knowledge, positive attitude and safe practice. Chi square test was used to cross tabulation between socio-demographic characteristics and knowledge, attitude and practice score.

Results: Over all 18.1%, 47.2% and 52% of study participants had good knowledge, positive attitude and safe practice for prevention of breast cancer respectively. More than two third (89%) of participants were stated that breast cancer was not curable disease, more than half (67.7%) of were heard about mammogram. Only 10.2% were belief that screening was essential to breast cancer for early diagnosis. More than two third (69,9%) were not practice self breast examination and 69% were stated that fear of disease was major barrier to mammogram test.

Conclusion: The knowledge level among communities member of female regarding breast cancer was in-appropriate. Majority of them were not practicing self breast examination. Health education programme through workshops and seminars will be needed to increase the awareness toward breast cancer among females.