Women's health belief levels towards breast cancer: Example of three countries

Abstract

Objective: This research aims to compare the health belief levels of women towards breast cancer by country. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 431 women living in Turkey, Nigeria and India between December 2021 and April 2022 in order to examine the health belief levels of women towards breast cancer. Results: In our study, the mean score of Sensitivity Perception of individuals was 7.10±3.30, Caring/seriousness perception 17.02±5.91, Health motivation 21.09±3.65, BSE self-efficacy 31.28±12.34, BSE benefits 15.40±4.07, BSE barriers 21.38±6.40, Mammography benefits 18.76±4.62, and Mammography Barriers was 29.15±9.65. A significant difference was found in all sub-dimensions of the participants in the study, except for the mammography barriers, which are among the sub-dimensions of health beliefs about breast cancer (p<0.05). Conclusion: It was determined that all sub-dimensions of the participants in the study differed, except for the mammography barriers, which are among the sub-dimensions of health belief towards breast cancer.