Breast Cancer Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices amongst Women in Qatar

Ehab Hamed, Bayan Alemrayat, Mohamed Ahmed Syed, Suhad Daher-Nashif, Hadi Mohamad Abu Rasheed and Tanya Kane
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Ehab Hamed: Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha 26555, Qatar
Bayan Alemrayat: Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha 26555, Qatar
Mohamed Ahmed Syed: Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha 26555, Qatar
Suhad Daher-Nashif: Department of Population Medicine, College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
Hadi Mohamad Abu Rasheed: Qatar Cancer Society, Doha 22944, Qatar
Tanya Kane: Department of Population Medicine, College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 7, 1-12

Abstract: This cross-sectional study examines knowledge, attitudes, and practices surrounding breast cancer awareness and screening among women residents in Qatar. Females, >18 years old, registered with the Primary Health Care Corporation were invited to complete an Arabic or English online survey using a modified version of the Breast Cancer Awareness Module. Of the 9008 participants, 69% report awareness of breast cancer warning signs, but the results did not substantiate these claims. There remains a disconnect between participants’ perceived awareness of their ability to detect breast cancer and their actual recognition of individual signs and symptoms. Nearly half (45.4%) report rarely or never checking their breasts for abnormalities (44.6%). Breast self-examination (BSE) and Breast Cancer Screening (BCS) uptake is low and many are unaware of the starting age for invitation to Qatar’s BCS program. While only 18% of women report receiving an invitation, 94% attended, indicating that the BCS invitation is a remarkably effective means of improving screening uptake. Policymakers should capitalize on early recognition, which is possible in the youthful population. Broadening awareness campaigns and interventions targeting a broader audience including males, community and religious leaders and healthcare professionals may prove more effective in Arab communities.

Keywords: breast cancer screening; breast cancer knowledge and awareness; cancer and oncology; Qatar; Middle East (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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