An Example from the Rural Areas of Turkey: Women Breast Cancer Risk Levels and Application and Knowledge Regarding Early Diagnosis-Scan of Breast Cancer

Abstract

Objective: This research has been conducted for the purpose of determining the cancer risk levels of women living in a small village of in Saraycık village of Ankara and their knowledge and application of breast cancer early diagnose-scan methods.

Materials and methods: 317 women were taken as examples for the study. Data were collected by giving survey forms to women and conducting face-to-face interviews. In determining breast cancer risk, "the form to determine the breast cancer risk" has been used. For breast cancer informational questions, one point has been given for each correct answer. In evaluating the data, number, percentage calculations, average and standard deviation, Mann-Whitney U (MU), Kruskal-Wallis (KW), One-way analysis of variance (F) independent sample T (t) tests have been used.

Results: It has been found that breast cancer risk is low, the knowledge level about cancer early recognition methods are medium among the women. It has been determined that 74.4% women didn't perform breast self-examination. 89.6% of women don't have mammography taken and 88.6% don't have their breast examined by health personnel.

Conclusion: In our study, it has been found that the risk levels of women are low, their knowledge about early diagnosis and cure are at a medium level and their use of these methods are inadequate. For this reason, we suggest that responsibility of healthcare professionals have to be increased in determining breast cancer risk among women and education and advisory services for this subject to be offered.

Keywords: Breast cancer; early diagnosis methods; risk level; women.