Promoting Breast Cancer Awareness and Screening Practices for Early Detection in Low-Resource Settings

Abstract

Objective: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women in the Philippines. Philippines has one of the highest breast cancermortality rate and the lowest mortality-to-incidence ratio in Asia. This study has three objectives: 1) explore Filipino women's knowledge, attitudestoward, and practices of breast cancer and cancer screening, 2) examine if an educational program increases women’s intention to seek future breastcancer screening, and 3) examine associations between demographic variables and breast cancer screening practices.Materials and Methods: A total of 944 women from two urban areas (Calasciao and Tacloban City) and one rural area (Sogood) of the Philippinesparticipated in this cross-sectional study. Study participants attended an educational program and completed study questionnaires regardingdemographics, knowledge about, and practices of breast self-exams, clinical breast exams and mammography as well as reported barriers towardfuture screening.Results: The results showed a disparity between knowledge of routine breast cancer screening and actuals screening behaviors. Following breasthealth education and screening programs, participants reported greater intention to adhere to recommended breast cancer screening guidelines. Themultivariate analyses showed that education level is a significant predictor for CBE and mammography uptake in current study.Conclusion: This study has implications for breast cancer control among women in low-resources settings. Designing and implementing effectiveeducational programs that increase women’s awareness about breast cancer and promote screening uptake are important steps to reduce the burdenaffected by breast cancer among women in the Philippines and other South Asian low- to middle-income countries.