Prevalence of breast cancer risk factors and determinants of screening among women in Bandar Turkmen, 2014-2015

Abstract

Background: In Asian countries such as Iran, the incidence of breast cancer (BC) is increasing. Despite the potential benefits of mammography screening for early detection of BC, the performance of this screening among Iranian women, particularly Turkmen women, is low. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of behavioral and reproductive risk factors of BC and the uptake of BC screening and its associated factors among Turkmen women. Methods: Through a cross sectional study, in 2015, a random sample of 437 women aged 35-70 years old without the history of BC and identified with Turkmen background in Bandar Torkaman city, Iran, were recruited and interviewed by two trained interviewers. Data about demographic, socioeconomic, reproductive status, health-related behaviors and history of participation in BC screening was collected using a researcher made questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models with self-reported mammography history as the dependent variable were used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) with 95% of confidence intervals (CI). Results: The mean age of women was 46.71 (SD = 8.73). The most prevalent risk factors were inadequate intake of fruit and vegetables (86.7%), inadequate physical activity (55.4%), history of Oral Contraceptives consumption (48.3%) and obesity (46.9%). The uptake rate of mammography screening was 11% (95% CI: 8.37-14.29%), and in the mammography and/or clinical breast exam was about 19.7% (95% CI: 16.20-23.69%). Mammography uptake percentage was significantly lowest among illiterate (OR = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.03-0.50) and lower level of education (elementary or middle school) women (OR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.18-0.99) after adjustment for all variables. Family history of BC was a predictor of uptake in BC screening programs (OR = 2.51, 95% CI: 0.99-6.30). Conclusion: The findings provided community-based evidence of the need to integrate risk assessment in women and active screening in high risk groups in the health care system, in line with the health promotion programs, especially on healthy lifestyle topics. Also designing participation enhancing interventions with a specific focus on illiterate and lower levels of education, housekeeper and socioeconomically disadvantaged women are recommended.