title: Barriers for breast cancer screening among Asian women: a mini literature review.
abstract: Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Asian women. Breast cancer is detected in advanced stages and among younger age group women in Asia. The delay in presentation is attributed mainly to the social-cultural perception of the disease, poverty, and the strong influence of traditional medicine. Many of Asian women are not aware of the importance of regular screening. Cultural attitudes toward breast cancer screening tests, modesty, lack of encouragement by family members and physicians are the major inhibitors to women's participation in breast cancer screening. Health education using media and community health programs to create awareness of the advantages of earlier presentation and diagnosis of breast cancer in Asian women can motivate participation in breast cancer screening programs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal and Child Health, Hamedan University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Iran. PParsa2003@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Parisa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parsa
authors.forename: Mirnalini
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kandiah
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abdul Rahman
authors.forename: Na Mohd
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Zulkefli
mesh_terms: D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008518:Medicine, East Asian Traditional; D009042:Motivation; D011203:Poverty; D016387:Women's Health