Knowledge and awareness of breast cancer signs and symptoms among Jordanian women.

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer (BC) remains the most common cancer among women worldwide. Early detection plays a vital role in reducing morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to assess Jordanian women's awareness of BC signs and symptoms to support timely recognition and intervention.

Research design and methods: A nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted involving 381 Jordanian women from the general community. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire assessing their knowledge of BC signs and symptoms using a three-point Likert scale ("Yes," "Unsure," "No"). Demographic variables were analyzed for association with knowledge levels using Pearson's Chi-square or Fisher's Exact Test.

Results: 80.3% of participants demonstrated good awareness of BC signs and symptoms. Significant associations were found between knowledge levels and marital status (p = 0.000), age (p = 0.033), having children (p = 0.000), number of children (p = 0.003), education specialty (p = 0.000), and working area (p = 0.005).

Conclusions: Most participants demonstrated a strong awareness of BC signs and symptoms. However, educational interventions are needed to target knowledge gaps, particularly among unmarried women.