Background: Early detection of breast cancer can dramatically change the prognosis.
Perception towards breast cancer and screening methods is a crucial determinant of early
detection. Objectives: To assess women's perception towards breast cancer and screening
methods according to the subscales of health belief model and to identify the level of
knowledge about cancer breast, early detection methods and the barriers against adapting
screening behavior and to assess the presence of screening services in PHC. Method: a
cross sectional study was carried out on 270 women from 13 randomly selected primary
health care units at Zagazig district. Champion's Health Belief Model Scale was used to
assess perception. A structured questionnaire was used to assess knowledge about breast
cancer. Results: More than 50% of the participants had a perception score less than the
mean in all health belief model subscales, except in perception of benefits and barriers.
Educated, working women with enough income and positive family history had more
perception of susceptibility, severity, self-efficacy with lower perception of barriers. Only
55.2% of participants had fair total knowledge score about breast cancer. 37 % and 35.2 %
of them conducted breast self-examination and clinical breast examination respectively.
The main perceived barriers were towards clinical breast examination; 66% found it
costly, 61% agreed that it is painful and 56% reported it as embarrassing behavior.
Women with fair knowledge had higher perception in all scales of health belief model
except perception of barriers. 53.8% of primary health units conducted health education
sessions about breast cancer and mammogram was present in one urban center.
Conclusion: More than half of the sample had low perception score and low total
knowledge score regarding breast cancer and screening methods. The reported barriers
were pain, embarrassment and expensive cost for clinical breast examination. Not all
primary health care units provide awareness campaign or clinical examination of breast
cancer.