title: Breast Self-examination and Health Beliefs in Grenadian Women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Breast cancer incidence and mortality are rising in Grenada, and there is a lack of knowledge about women's beliefs about breast self-examination (BSE).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to quantify and identify patterns of beliefs about health and BSE in Grenadian women to help plan targeted community interventions.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this descriptive cross-sectional study of 110 women in a community parish in Grenada, sociodemographic data and health beliefs were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. The Champion revised Health Belief Model Scale was used to measure general health motivation (5 items), perceived susceptibility to breast cancer (4 items), seriousness of breast cancer (7 items), confidence in performing BSE (7 items), benefits of BSE (2 items), and barriers to BSE (6 items).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Younger women were motivated to perform BSE (P = .018), and divorced/separated/widowed women felt more susceptible to breast cancer (P = .014) but perceived fewer benefits in performing BSE (P = .032). Women who did not attend church were more motivated (P = .015) and saw greater benefit (P = .033) in BSE. Frequent church attendees perceived that they were more susceptible (P = .01), were less confident (P < .001), and saw less benefit in BSE (P = .024).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are groups of women in Grenada with belief patterns and sociodemographic characteristics that may benefit from targeted community intervention, perhaps in partnership with other stakeholders such as the church.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Beliefs about health and BSE affect BSE uptake and are culture dependent. These data help identify the at-risk population to guide the development of targeted community-based and culturally appropriate breast screening programs.
authors.affiliation: Author Affiliations: Division of Nursing, Barry University College of Health Sciences, Miami Shores, Florida (Dr Delpech); and Department of Nursing & Allied Health Sciences, St Georges University, Grenada, West Indies (Dr Haynes-Smith).
authors.forename: Paula Alexander
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Delpech
authors.forename: Glenenna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Haynes-Smith
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016504:Breast Self-Examination / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019425:Grenada / Q000453:epidemiology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult