Mammography utilization among Turkish women

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Public Health
• Women's Health

Background:

• Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in Turkey.
• Limited data exists regarding mammography practices and awareness in the Turkish population.
• Understanding factors influencing mammography uptake is crucial for early detection and improved outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the associations between women's attitudes and knowledge regarding mammography and their socio-demographic characteristics.
• To identify factors associated with mammography utilization among women in Turkey.
• To assess awareness and practices related to breast cancer screening methods.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted with 1,208 women attending primary health care or breast disease outpatient clinics.
• Data was collected via face-to-face interviews using a printed questionnaire.
• Statistical analyses included chi-square and logistic regression to identify significant associations.

Main Results:

• 12.7% of women had no knowledge of mammography, and 57.3% had never had one.
• Awareness of breast self-examination (BSE) was 51.1%, and 50.6% had undergone a clinical breast examination (CBE) at least once.
• Age and health system factors like BSE and CBE awareness were more influential on mammography use than socio-economic factors.

Conclusions:

• While 92.3% recognized mammography's utility for early breast cancer detection, and 90.6% deemed it necessary for women over 50, actual usage remains limited.
• Positive attitudes towards mammography coexist with a significant gap in knowledge and practice.
• Interventions should focus on enhancing awareness of screening methods and addressing age-related and health system factors to improve mammography uptake.