IJSR International Journal of Scientific Research 2277 - 8179 Indian Society for Health and Advanced Research ijsr-8-4-19074 Original Research Paper Breast Cancer Screening Beliefs Among Saudi Women: A cross–sectional study in Saudi Arabia. Khalid Alshammari Dr. April 2019 8 4 01 02 ABSTRACT

The incidence of breast cancer in the world is increasing, especially among Arab women. Breast cancer develops at earlier age in Arab females. In Saudi Arabia, it is a significant. Arab women are threatened by mortality from breast cancer, early diagnosis and conscious screening can decrease mortality rate, however there are low knowledge and attitude about breast cancer and its screening. Aim: To assess the attitude, knowledge and barriers of women toward breast cancer and its screening. Methods: This study is cross sectional study which included 455 females and was conducted at outpatient primary care setting in two centers (King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH), and Prince Mohammed bin Abdul–Aziz hospital) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The study was based on using a valid and reliable self–administrated Arabic. questionnaire Results: The mean± SD score of attitude was 654.16±19.89, knowledge was 69.58±16.76 and barriers= 69.40±15.59. There were significant differences between health awareness and both knowledge (P–value=0.000) and barriers (P–value=0.001). Regarding the number of mammogram there was significance difference in mean score of barriers (P–value=0.01). Education level significantly affected knowledge mean score (P–value=0.000). Conclusion: Low attitude, good knowledge and low barriers were found among Saudi women regarding breast cancer and screening of it.