Factors Influencing Breast Cancer Awareness in Rural Southwest China: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to explore the current knowledge level of breast cancer among rural women in Southwest China and analyze the influencing factors of breast cancer cognition.

METHODS: From May to November 2022, 1468 rural women were invited to participate in this study. Demographic information and the Chinese version of the Breast Cancer Awareness Measure (C-BCAM) were collected through one-on-one investigations. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multiple regression analysis in SPSS 26.0.

RESULTS: The study included a total of 1468 rural women with a median age of 54.0 (IQR, 47.0, 60.0).The average score of breast cancer in the study population was 73.0 (IQR, 66.0, 82.0). Among women in Southwest China, the awareness rates of knowledge on breast cancer symptoms, barriers to seeking medical help, and risk factors were 68.8%, 98.4%, and 62.1%, respectively. The awareness rate was found to increase with higher education levels ( P <0.001) and decrease with increasing age ( P <0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified three variables that might influence breast cancer awareness: education level, contraceptive measures, and history of breast disease (all P <0.05). Specifically, history of breast disease (Odds ratio (OR) = 1.907, 95% CI = 1.128 ~ 3.223), middle school education (OR = 2.155, 95% CI = 1.585 ~ 2.928), and junior college education and above (OR = 5.536, 95% CI = 1.898 ~ 16.148) were positive factors for women's breast cancer awareness. Conversely, the use of intrauterine devices (OR = 0.523, 95% CI = 0.384 ~ 0.712) was found to be a negative factor for women's breast cancer awareness.

CONCLUSION: This study highlights the insufficient awareness of breast cancer among women in rural area of Southwest China. It emphasizes the necessity of health education to improve female breast cancer awareness.