title: Knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour regarding breast cancer screening among women from different socio-economic regions in southwest China: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In most developed countries, breast cancer screening (BCS) is a well-established practice which is widely accepted by women. In contrast, national BCS projects in China were only launched in the last two years, so little is known about their public response.
  
  
  METHODS
  We surveyed 1,162 Chinese women from different socio-economic regions in Sichuan Province to assess participants' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour regarding BCS. ANOVA/t-test, Chi-square test, SNK test, and covariance analyses were used to compare subgroups and a multinomial logistic regression model was adopted to examine factors associated with BCS attendance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant differences in scores of BCS knowledge were seen across regions. Most women from all four regions were interested in knowing the risk factors for (1,053, 90.6%) and means of prevention (912, 78.5%) of breast cancer. Eight hundred thirty-seven (72.0%) women expressed willingness to pay extra insurance fees when young in exchange for reimbursement for cancer screening when they reached the age at which screening is recommended. Approval of primary medical institutions was generally low. Regional socio-economic level, work status, and education were strong predictors of BCS attendance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To eliminate geographic disparities and raise the participation rate of BCS, future health education should be adjusted to local conditions and strengthened for women in under-developed regions. Incorporating BCS into a regular program of community-based prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases, and increasing medical insurance funds to cover BCS, especially in rural areas, may be effective means to increase BCS attendance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, China. lijiayuan73@163.com
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Anrong
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jiayuan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.forename: Qiong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ning
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yuan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000191:economics; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population