Factors Influencing Breast Cancer Knowledge and Attitudes of Women in Abbottabad, Pakistan

BACKGROUND Breast cancer (BC) is a significant health issue in Pakistan, leading to higher mortality rates compared to other countries. Therefore, this questionnaire-based study aimed to assess knowledge, awareness, and beliefs about BC in 300 women in Abbottabad, Pakistan, between January and April 2019. MATERIAL AND METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted among healthy adult female residents of Abbottabad between January and April 2019 using structured, pre-validated questionnaires. Data collection was conducted through face-to-face interviews. The questionnaire was divided into 3 sections with 17 items, including demographic information, knowledge about BC, and beliefs about BC. Data were analyzed using the SPSS version 25. A total of 300 women responded to the study invitation. RESULTS Of 300 respondents, 87.3% (n=262) were aware of BC. Among them, only 37 (14.1%) had good knowledge, 90 (34.4%) had average knowledge, and 135 (51.5%) had poor knowledge about BC. The majority of respondents exhibited positive beliefs (74%). Knowledge was significantly higher among single (6.77±2.87) and widowed (6.00±3.65) women compared to married women (p=0.001). Similarly, knowledge and beliefs about BC were higher among women with higher education (6.79±2.93; p=0.001; 6.76±2.12; p=0.025) compared to those with lower education. Women living in urban areas had greater knowledge (5.89±2.75) than those in rural areas (4.58±2.78), suggesting a significant difference. A weak positive correlation between knowledge and beliefs (r=0.336, p=0.001) was identified. CONCLUSIONS Study participants had low knowledge about BC but generally positive beliefs, highlighting the need for targeted education and awareness programs to improve knowledge about BC among women in Abbottabad.