Examination of factors affecting women's barrier perception to participate in breast cancer screenings in a region affiliated with a family health center in Turkey.

BACKGROUND/AIM This study was conducted in order to determine the factors related to women's barrier perception to participate in breast cancer screenings in a region affiliated with a family health center. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was a cross-sectional study. The sample group of the study consisted of 300 women. Descriptive statistics, t test, and Mann-Whitney U test were performed for the analysis of the data. RESULTS Breast self-examination (BSE) and mammography barrier perception mean score of those who were illiterate in terms of educational status, and BSE and mammography barrier perception mean score of those who were single in terms of marital status were determined to be significantly higher (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found between BSE and mammography barrier perception mean scores of those who had no health insurance and lived in a district or a village (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION Demographic factors as well as factors such as women's knowledge on early diagnosis of breast cancer and previous experiences in participation in early diagnosis behaviors of breast cancer could affect the barrier perception.