The Status of Screening Tests for Women's Common Cancers in the Personnel of the Educational-Medical and Health Centers

Among women’s cancers, breast and cervical cancers are most common with high mortality rate, but they can be rectified in the initial stages with cost-effective, easy and readily available screening programs. The task of informing the community and directing them towards the screening programs is one of the major responsibilities of the health team. Determining the screening test status for common female cancers and their associated factors among the personnel working in the health and educational centers. In this cross-sectional and analytical study, 212 employees (physicians, gynecologists, nurses, midwives and family health unit personnel) from Al-Zahra Medical Center and the health centers of Rasht City (15 centers) were studied. A 4-part questionnaire was prepared and completed by the selected employees. For statistical analysis, descriptive characteristics and Independent t test were used. To determine the predictor-related factors for conducting Pap Smear test, mammography and breast self-examination, multiple analysis and logistic regression model were used. The results showed that 76.80% of the subjects with regard to Pap Smear test, 50% with regard to mammography and 86.60% with regard to breast self-examination had a good performance. Age (B=-0.12, P=0.007), age of the first pregnancy (B=0.14, P=0.05) and early diagnosis of cancer by screening (B=1.21, P=0.04) were predictive factors for performing Pap Smear. Duration of the current contraceptive method (P=0.05, B=-0.07), presence of suspicious mass in the breast (B=2.095, P=0.004) and fear of cancer (B=-0.85, P=0.07) were predictive factors for performing mammography. While, fear of cancer (P=0.02, B=6.31) was the only predictor of breast self-examination. Considering that working personnel in health-care centers are models for the general public, promoting their health behaviors such as performing timely tests can be an effective approach to promote better health in the community.