Knowledge and Awareness of Sudanese Women toward Breast Cancer Detection

Abstract

Background: The most frequent cancer in women is breast cancer (BC), which unfortunately has high mortality in Sudan whereas most of the patients are diagnosed at late stages of this disease sequence either due to a lack of awareness or unavailability of screening programs. objective: to asses of the knowledge and awareness of breast cancer detection among Sudanese women 2022 - 2023. Material and Methods: a community representative descriptive cross-sectional study of women aged 17 to 70 years in different Sudanese provinces was included using a semi-structural interview questionnaire. Results: out of 200 participants, the mean age was 39.8 (±12.13) years and the majority of them were aged between 41 and 50 years 54 (27%). 120 (60%) had no prior experience with breast cancer at all and 73 (36.5%) had never heard of breast self-examination for BC. The study resulted that the dominant of interviewed women 181 (90.5%) had a good awareness of breast cancer, and 161 (80.5%) believed that breast screening must require for the early detection of breast tumors. Breast changes, discharge, and lump pain were the most common prevalent reasons for breast screening in this study 95 (38.7%), 46 (18.7%), and 45 (18.3). It was clear that education level has a significant effect on the level of knowledge of breast cancer and its diagnostic screening tools among participants, with graduated women having adequate knowledge in comparison to those not graduated women 92 (50.5%) and 89 (49.2%) (p-value = 0.004 < 0.05). As well, the central resident participants had good knowledge about breast cancer 112 (70 %) in comparison with other residents. Conclusion: awareness and knowledge of BC detection increase with increasing educational levels and central urban living, there is an urgent need for intensive breast cancer awareness programs and the availability of screening centers authorities in Sudanese periphery areas.