Investigation of the Knowledge and Behaviors of Breast Cancer Early Diagnosis Methods and Risk factors in Pregnant Women

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the knowledge and behaviors of breast cancer early diagnosis methods and risk factors in pregnant women Material and methods: The study has a descriptive, cross-sectional design. Data collection was performed by using a questionnaire created by the researcher in light of the literature. Data were collected in State Hospital between October and December in 2018. The study population included all pregnant women presenting to hospital and experiencing their second and third trimesters at the time of data collection. The study sample involved 194 pregnant women accepting to participate in the study. Results: Age at the first pregnancy was 30 years or older in 4.5% of the women, 13.6% of the women had not given birth before and 8.8% of the women had a familial history of breast cancer. Thirty-two point five percent of the women heard about breast self-examination before pregnancy and 61.3% of the women did not perform breast self-examination before pregnancy. During pregnancy, 74.7% women did not perform breast self-examination and 95.9% of the patients did not have clinical breast examinations. Conclusion: Evaluation of risk factors, performing clinical breast examination and ultrasound in the first prenatal follow-up visit will help early diagnosis of breast cancer. Informing pregnant women about breast self-examination to raise their awareness about pregnancy associated breast cancer.