title: Practice and barriers of mammography among Malaysian women in the general population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to determine the practice and barriers of mammography and associated factors among Malaysian women in the general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 women in Shah Alam, Selangor; Malaysia. The questionnaire contained 27 questions and was comprised of two sections; socio-demographic characteristics and practices, knowledge and barriers of mammography. All the data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 13.0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 200 Malaysian women who participated in this study, the majority were under the age of 50 years (65.5%), Malay (86%), and married (94.5%). Regarding any family history of cancer in general, the majority of the participants had none (78%). However, some did report a close relative with breast cancer (16.5%). While the majority of them knew about mammography (68%), 15% had had a mammogram once in their life and only 2% had the procedure every two or three years. Univariate analysis showed that age, family history of cancer, family history of breast cancer, regular supplement intake, regular medical check-up and knowledge about mammogram were significantly associated with mammogram practice among the general population (p=0.007, p=0.043, P=0.015, p=0.01, p=0.001, p<0.001; respectively). Multivariate analysis using multiple linear regression test showed that age, regular medical check-up and knowledge about mammography testing were statistically associated with the practice of mammography among the general population in Malaysia (p=0.035, p=0.015 and p<0.001; respectively). Lack of time, lack of knowledge, not knowing where to go for the test and a fear of the test result were the most important barriers (42.5%, 32%, 21%, 20%; respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The practice of mammogram screening is low among Malaysian women.
authors.affiliation: Community Medicine Department, International Medical School, Management and Science University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Redhwan A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Al-Naggar
authors.forename: Yuri V
authors.initials: YV
authors.lastname: Bobryshev
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016504:Breast Self-Examination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008327:Mammography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires