Survey of health beliefs of women about performing mammography in the health servic centers of Sari

Background and Breast cancer is one of the most important non contagious disease with high incidence and mortality in females. It is the most commonly reported cancer and consists 18.9% of all reported cancer cases. Screening is a very important method for early diagnosis of breast cancer. Considering the important role of beliefs in performing as the most effective available method in diagnosis, this study was designed and done about the health beliefs of women towards mammography. This descriptive study was performed on 400 randomly selected women above 40 years of age referring to the health service centers in Sari. Their health beliefs about mammography was assessed by a questionnaire using Champion method. The obtained data were analyzed by inferential and descriptive statistical methods. Majority of the women (69.5%) did not practice mammography until the time of this study but 13.9% of their first family members did it. About 55.8% of them accepted that mammography insures individuals of their breast health. About 41.6% of them believed that early diagnosis of breast cancer prevents mastectomy. The most common obstacle of mammography was the concept that lack of any mass observation in breast self examination rejects requirement for mammography. About 34.5% of the patients, agreed that breast cancer affects their job activity and 34.7% agreed that breast cancer may lead to masteatomy. Statistical analysis did not reveal any relation between the occupation of the women and their beliefs about benefit of mammography and their vulnerability to breast cancer and its severity. Statistically significant relationship was observed between the education and the concepts of the women about the benefit and barrier of mammography (p<0.05). Despite positive concept, about mammography, it is not routinely performed in the society. Hence, it is recommended to encourage women to take advantage of this method for breast cancer screening and also the procedure should be free of charge for women above 40 years of age attending heath cancers.