Insights into breast cancer education concerning knowledge, awareness, and perceptions: A cross-sectional study among young adult girls

Introduction

In developing countries, mortality from breast cancer (BC) is higher due to changes in lifestyle that produce a rise in incidence, with over half of patients receiving advanced-stage diagnoses. Young girls have a significant impact on women's knowledge and awareness of BC in their communities and their motivation needs to be evaluated.

Objective

The aim of this study was to assess the level of knowledge of BC regarding potential risk factors, awareness about the most common warning signs, diagnostic and screening, and perceptions towards BC treatment outcomes among young adult girls in Northern Cyprus.

Methods

A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted among young adult girls in three major provinces of Northern Cyprus: Nicosia, Kyrenia, and Famagusta, using a structured, validated questionnaire with five parts.

Results

A total of 300 young adult girls were enrolled in this study, with a mean age of 22.37 years. There was a significant lack of knowledge about BC risk factors and diagnosis (score = 8.4, P < 0.0001); (score = 5.7, P < 0.0001, respectively). There was also a significant lack of awareness of the BC signs (score = 6.6, P < 0.0001), and perceptions towards treatment (score = 5.3, P < 0.0001).

Conclusion

This study found that most young adult girls in Northern Cyprus had lower than expected knowledge of BC risk factors, warning signs, and early cancer diagnosis and screening. The study population, on the other hand, had fairly positive perceptions of BC management.