title: Knowledge of breast cancer and breast self-examination practice among Iranian women in Hamedan, Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Iran, breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in women and a major public health problem.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross sectional study was carried out to determine knowledge on breast cancer and breast self- examination (BSE) practices of 384 females living in the city of Hamadan, Iran. A purposive sampling method was adopted and data were collected via face-to-face interviews based on a validated questionnaire developed for this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among respondents 268 (69.8%) were married and 144 (37.5%) of the respondents reported having a family history of breast cancer. One hundred respondents (26.0%) claimed they practiced BSE. Level of breast cancer knowledge was significantly associated with BSE practice (p=0.000). There was no association with demographic details (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings showed that Iranian women's knowledge regarding breast cancer and the practice of BSE is inadequate. Targeted education should be implemented to improve early detection of breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selongor, Malaysia E-mail : akhtari_mehrnoosh@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mehrnoosh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akhtari-Zavare
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghanbari-Baghestan
authors.forename: Latiffah A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Latiff
authors.forename: Nasrin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Matinnia
authors.forename: Mozhgan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoseini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016504:Breast Self-Examination; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult