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Recorded presentation

Rafia S. Rasu, PhD¹, Bebie J. Selwyn, ScD², Sheikh Shahidullah, MPH, MBBS³, and Abu J. Faisel, MPH, MBBS³. (1) School of Pharmacy, Pharmacy Practice Division, University of Missouri Kansas City, M3-C19 Medical School Building, 2411 Holmes Street, Kansas City, MO 64108, (816) 235-5498, rasur@umkc.edu, (2) Management, Policy and Community Health, University of Texas Houston School of Public Health, P.O. Box 20186, Houston, TX 77225, (3) Engender Health Bangladesh, Dhanmondi, House #52, Road # 15A, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Breast Cancer (BC) is the second most common cancer among women in Bangladesh, yet no information is yet available on BC screening practices among Bangladeshi women. In a cross-sectional study we determined knowledge, attitude and behavior towards mammogram (MG) and self-breast examination (SBE) among women in Dhaka, Bangladesh. A total of 152 women 40 years or older with no prior history of BC were recruited by convenient sampling from employees (from cleaners to faculty members) of various universities and colleges in the Dhaka metropolitan area. We used a semi-structured questionnaire to interview women face-to-face. Nine percent of the participants did not know about BC. About 26% of the women had never heard about MG/SBE. Only 17% of those who heard about MG (n=107) had at least one MG done while 72% knew that MG should be recommended for women over 50 years of age. About 63% of those who knew about SBE reported practicing SBE. Knowledge about both MG/SBE correlated with education level (p=<0.05) but only MG practice (p<0.05) was associated with education level. Commonly mentioned barriers for MG were unwillingness, fear, time constraint, careless, financial constraint and lack of “good health behavior”. Considering the findings along with the participants' employment and residence in the most informed part of the country (capital city), this study indicates a need for designing a culturally appropriate health education program on screening for breast cancer.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Learn about practice and barriers of self breast exam and mammogram among women in Dhaka Bangladesh.
• 2. Study contributing factors associated towards breast cancer screening practice.
• 3. Assist planning culturally appropriate health educational program on screening for breast cancer.

Keywords: Breast Cancer Screening, Health Communications

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation