Irak'ta yaşayan 40 yaş üstü kadınların meme kanseri korkusu ve mammografi öz yeterlilikleri arasındaki ilişkinin belirlenmesi

Introduction: The incidence of breast cancer is increasing worldwide every year. The best option for controlling breast cancer is early detection and the most effective method is mammography. Women's self-efficacy and fears may influence withdrawal from mammography used in the early detection of breast cancer. Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between the fear of breast cancer and mammography self-efficacy of women over the age of 40 living in Iraq. Method: The research was conducted with 386 women recruited in the main primary health care centers of Hilla I and II sectors from June 1, 2022, to September 1, 2022. The research is cross-sectional and relational. Data were collected using the Sociodemographic and clinical characteristic form, the Champion Mammography Self-Efficacy Scale-Arabic version, and the Champion Breast Cancer Fear Scale-Arabic version. Results: The mean age of women is 48.46±6.83, 38.6% are university graduates, 75.4% are married, 68.1% have children, 54.7% work, 61.7% income equal to the cost, 76.7% have good health, 91.5% have no family history of breast cancer, 88.3% have no breast problems, 61.1% have received information about breast cancer, 97.2% had no history of breast cancer. 66.6% of women do not do breast self-examination, 77.5% do not have a clinical breast examination, 90.2% have not had mammography before, and 6.2% of them have been recommended by nurses or doctors. A statistically significant correlation was found between self-efficacy and fear as weakly positive (r=0.147) (p=0.004). Conclusion: It was found that Iraqi women had a high level of mammography self-efficacy and fear of breast cancer. There is a significant relationship between mammography self-efficacy and fear of breast cancer.