Abstract
Breast cancer is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in Canada. Secondary prevention through screening may enable early identification and treatment, but this is suboptimal among all Canadian women, particularly minority immigrant women. This cross-sectional exploratory study assessed breast health knowledge and practices among Iranian immigrant women residing in Toronto. Our sample included 50 adult women with no history of breast cancer. Results showed that, overall, participants had limited knowledge of breast cancer and screening practices. More than two-thirds had low knowledge scores; 22% did not know that the risk of breast cancer increases with age; about 50% did not know the recommended time interval for screening mammography; 72% did not know how frequently to undergo a clinical breast examination. Length of stay in Canada was associated with self-reported breast health practices. These findings highlight the need to educate Iranian immigrants about the role of screening to promote early identification of breast cancer in the absence of symptoms. Culturally sensitive educational materials should be developed to address their specific needs. Healthcare providers should also be educated about how to communicate breast health information effectively to immigrant women. Opportunistic teaching during each health encounter should be encouraged and reinforced.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Canadian Cancer Society. Key Cancer Statistics for 2007. [On-Line]. Available from: http://www.cancer.ca/english/RS_CancerFacts2001.asp . Retrieved March 2010.
Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. [On-Line]. Available from: http://www.cbcf.org/breastcancer/bc_early.asp. Retrieved April 2010.
Baxter, N. (2001). Canadian task force on preventive health care: Preventive healthcare, 2001 update: Should women be routinely taught breast self-examination to screen for the breast cancer. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 164(13), 1837–1846.
Maxwell, C. J., Bancej, C. M., & Snider, J. (2001). Predictors of mammography use among Canadian women aged 50–69: Findings from the 1996/97 National Population Health Survey. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 164(3), 329–334.
Ramirez, A. G., Suarez, L., Laufman, L., Barroso, C., & Chalela, P. (2000). Hispanic women’s breast and cervical cancer knowledge, attitudes, and screening behaviours. American Journal of Health Promotion, 14(5), 292–300.
Cancer Care Ontario, The Quality of Cancer services in Ontario, Ontario Women Health Council, Cancer Care Ontario, and Cancer Quality Council of Ontario. (2006).
Friedman, D. B., & Hoffman-Goetz, L. (2006). Assessment of cultural sensitivity of cancer information in ethnic print media. Journal of Health Communication, 11, 425–447.
Gany, F. M., Herrera, A. P., Avallone, M., & Changrani, J. (2006). Attitudes, knowledge, and health seeking behaviours of five immigrant minority communities in the prevention and screening of cancer: A focus group approach. Ethn Health, 11(1), 19–39.
Shields, M., & Wilkins, K. (2009). An update on mammography use in Canada. Health Reports, 20(3), 1–14. Statistics Canada Catalogue no: 82-003-XPE.
Statistics Canada. Canada 2006 Census.
Kagawa-Singer, M., & Kassim-Lakha, S. (2003). A strategy to reduce cross cultural miscommunication and increase the likelihood of improving health outcomes. Journal of Academic Medicine, 78, 577–587.
Johnson, J. L., Bottorff, J. L., Balneaves, L. G., Grewall, S., Bhagat, R., Hilton, B. A., et al. (1999). South Asian women’s views on the causes of breast cancer: Images and explanations. Patient Education and Counseling, 37, 243–254.
Sadler, G. R., Dhanjal, S. K., Shah, N. B., Shah, R. B., Ko, C., Anghel, M., et al. (2001). Asian Indian women: Knowledge, attitudes and behaviours toward breast cancer early detection. Public Health Nursing, 18(5), 357–363.
Vahabi, M. (2010). Iranian women’s perception and beliefs about breast cancer. Health Care Women In, 31(9), 817–830.
Sadler, G. R., Wang, K., Wang, M., & Ko, C. M. (2000). Chinese women: Behaviours and attitudes and toward breast cancer education and screening. Women Health Iss, 10(1), 20–26.
Lackey, N. R., Gates, M. F., & Brown, G. B. (2001). African American women’s experiences with the initial discovery, diagnosis, and treatment of breast cancer. Oncology Nursing Forum, 28(3), 520–527.
Luquis, R. R., & Villanueva Cruz, I. J. (2006). Knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions about breast cancer and breast cancer screening among Hispanic women residing in South Central Pennsylvania. Journal of Community Health, 31(1), 25–42.
Anderson, B. O., & Jackesz, R. (2008). Breast cancer issues in developing countries: an overview of the Breast Health Global Initiatives. World Journal of Surgery, 32, 2578–2585.
Ahmad, F., Cameron, J. I., & Stewart, D. E. (2005). A tailored intervention to promote breast cancer screening among south Asian immigrant women. Social Science and Medicine, 60(3), 575–586.
Woloshin, S., Schwartz, L. M., Katz, S. J., & Welch, H. G. (1999). Is language a barrier to the use of preventive services. Journal of Internal Medicine, 12, 427–477.
Mehrabi, Y., Yavari, P., & Abadi, A. (2003). A study of cancer pattern among public hospital in patient in Iran during 2000–2002. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 7, 86–90.
Mousavi, S. M., Montazeri, A., Mohagheghi, M. A., Mousavi Jarrahi, A., Harirchi, I., Najafi, M., et al. (2007). Breast cancer in Iran: An epidemiological review. Breast, 13, 383–391.
Harirchi, I., Ghaemmaghami, F., Karbakhsh, M., Moghimi, R., & Mazaherie, H. (2005). Patient delay in women presenting with advanced breast cancer: An Iranian study. Public Health, 119(10), 885–891.
McCance, K. L., Mooney, K. H., Smith, K. R., & Field, R. (1990). Validity and reliability of a breast cancer knowledge test. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 6(2), 93–98.
Thornton, H., & Pillarisetti, R. R. (2008). Breast awareness and breast self examination are not the same. What do these terms mean? Why are they confused? What can we do? European Journal of Cancer, 44, 2118–2121.
Ahmad, F., & Stewart, D. E. (2004). Predictors of clinical breast examination among south Asian immigrant women. Journal of Immigrant Health, 6(3), 119–126.
Bailey, E. J., Erwin, D. D., & Belin, P. (2000). Using cultural beliefs and patterns to improve mammography utilization among African American women: The Western project. Journal of Medical Association, 92, 136–142.
Haji-Mahmoodi, M., Montazeri, A., Jarvandi, S., Ebrahimi, M., Haghighat, S., & Harirchi, I. (2002). Breast self-examination: Knowledge, attitudes, and practices among female health care workers in Tehran, Iran. Breast Journal, 8(4), 222–225.
Baty, B. J., Kinney, A. Y., & Ellis, S. M. (2003). Developing culturally sensitive cancer genetics communication aids for African Americans. American Journal of Medical Genetics, 118A, 146–155.
Janz, N. E., & Becker, M. H. (1984). The health belief model: A decade later. Health Education Quarterly, 11, 1–47.
Cummings, D. M., Whetstone, L., Shende, A., & Weismiller, D. (2000). Predictors of screening mammography. Archives of Family Medicine, 9, 870–875.
Ogedegbe, G., Cassells, A. N., Robinson, C. M., DuHamel, K., Tobin, J. N., Sox, C. H., et al. (2005). Perception of barriers and facilitator of cancer early detection among low-income minority women in community health centers. Journal of National Medical Association, 97(2), 162–170.
Dunn, A. S., Shridharani, K. V., Lou, W., Bernstein, J., & Horowotz, C. R. (2001). Physician-patient discussions of controversial cancer screening tests. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 20(2), 130–134.
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank the following people who were instrumental in the completion of this study: all the women who found time in their busy schedules to participate in this study, Dr. Mehrdad Vahabi and Mr. Behruz Dawudi for the translation of the study instrument and revisions, and Dr. Cynthia Damba in assisting with the data analysis.
Financial Support
Financial support for this study was provided in part by Ryerson New Faculty SRC Development Fund and Ryerson Faculty of Community Services SRC Grant. The funding agreement ensured the author’s independence in designing the study, interpreting the data, writing, and publishing the report.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Vahabi, M. Knowledge of Breast Cancer and Screening Practices Among Iranian Immigrant Women in Toronto. J Community Health 36, 265–273 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-010-9307-9
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-010-9307-9