Breast cancer Risk Factors and screening predictors in women Aged 40+ in Baneh, west of Iran

Abstract

Background:A national breast cancer screening program has been introduced recently in Iran, therefore it is important to identify which women characteristics are potentially associated with and may have an important influence on the uptake of breast cancer screening.This study aimed to examine determinants of breast cancer screening uptake in Baneh, west of Iran. Methods:A cross sectional study was conducted in 2014.A random sample of 561 women aged 40 years and above without history of breast cancer and identified as Kurdish background were selected and interviewed by two trained interviewers.Information about demographic, socioeconomic status, reproductive factors, history of diseases, and breast cancer screening was collected using a questionnaire.Univariate and multivariable logistic regression models with selfreported screening history as the dependent variables were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs)with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results:A total of 561 women were included in this study, mean age of women was 43.64 (SD=5.17)years, participation in mammography was 16.8% (95% CI:13.7- 19.8%), and mammography and/or clinical breast examination was about 22% (95% CI:18.5-25.3%).Mammography uptake percentage was significantly lowest among women aged 60+ years of age (OR= 0.30, 95% CI:0.14-0.69), illiterate women (OR= 0.63 95% CI:0.40-0.99)and post-menopausal women (OR= 0.56, 95% CI:0.35- 0.91).Age, education and menopause status were significantly associated with the uptake, however, the association was attenuated after adjustment for all variables. Conclusion:In this study breast screening participation was low compared to other studies conducted in large cities in Iran and other countries.The screening uptake was different based on age, education and menopause factors.It is recommended to target women in older age who are mainly at higher risk of breast cancer development.