Breast Cancer Awareness and Barriers to Early Presentation in the Gaza-Strip: A Cross-Sectional Study
- PMID: 30372400
- PMCID: PMC7010447
- DOI: 10.1200/JGO.18.00095
Breast Cancer Awareness and Barriers to Early Presentation in the Gaza-Strip: A Cross-Sectional Study
Abstract
Purpose: Timely detection of breast cancer (BC) is important to reduce its related deaths. Hence, high awareness of its symptoms and risk factors is required. This study aimed to assess the awareness level of BC among females in Gaza.
Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was performed during September and October 2017 in Gaza, Palestine. Stratified sampling was used to recruit patients from four hospitals and seven high schools. The validated Breast Cancer Awareness Measure (BCAM) was used to assess confidence and behavior in relation to breast changes, awareness of BC symptoms and risk factors, barriers to seek medical help, and knowledge of BC screening. Women (age ≥ 18 years) visiting or admitted to any of the four hospitals, and female adolescents (age 15 to 17 years) in any of the seven schools, were recruited for face-to-face interviews to complete the BCAM.
Results: Of 3,055 women approached, 2,774 participants completed the BCAM questionnaire (response rate, 90.8%); 1,588 (57.2%) were adults, and 1,186 (42.8%) were adolescents. Of these, 1,781 (64.2%) rarely (or never) checked their breasts, and 909 (32.8%) were not confident to notice changes. In total, 1,675 (60.4%) were aware of the availability of BC screening programs. The overall mean ± standard deviation score for awareness of BC symptoms was 5.9 ± 2.9 of 11, and that of risk factors 7.5 ± 3.1 of 16. Feeling scared was the most reported barrier to seeking advice reported among women (n = 802; 50.2%), whereas feeling embarrassed was the most reported in adolescents (n = 745; 62.8%).
Conclusion: Awareness of BC symptoms, risk factors, and screening programs is suboptimal in Gaza. Educational interventions are necessary to increase public awareness of BC and to train local female breast surgeons to address barriers to early detection.
Conflict of interest statement
Mohamedraed Elshami
No relationship to disclose
Hanan Abu Kmail
No relationship to disclose
Maymona Abu-Jazar
No relationship to disclose
Ibtisam Mahfouz
No relationship to disclose
Dina Ashour
No relationship to disclose
Ansam Aljamal
No relationship to disclose
Nada Mohareb
No relationship to disclose
Reem Elbalaawi
No relationship to disclose
Reem Dabbour
No relationship to disclose
Jomana Ghaith
No relationship to disclose
Tayseer Hasan
No relationship to disclose
Meral Abdelati
No relationship to disclose
Esraa Saleh
No relationship to disclose
Haifa Shawwa
No relationship to disclose
Reem Al-Ghazali
No relationship to disclose
Ola Obaid
No relationship to disclose
Loai Albarqouni
No relationship to disclose
Bettina Böttcher
No relationship to disclose
References
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- Palestinian Ministry of Health Annual report for healthcare in the Gaza-Strip. http://www.moh.gov.ps/portal/wp-content/uploads/Annual-Report-2016.pdf
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- Hegde SM, Kumar MN, Kavya K, et al. Interplay of nuclear receptors (ER, PR, and GR) and their steroid hormones in MCF-7 cells. Mol Cell Biochem. 2016;422:109–120. - PubMed
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