The knowledge-attitude relating to cancer of women aged 18 and over living in the Central Malatya and the influencing factors

This study was planned to determine the knowledge and the attitude relating to cancer of women age 18 and over living at the central district in Malatya and to examine the influencing factors.This study is a cross-sectional research. We used for sampling in 30 unit of WHO. It was chosen Malatya village clinic center, as asylums unit. After taking cumulative calculating, village clinic center to proper for sampling was chosen with simple random sampling. For each groups, totally 575 women, over 18 years old were included. The data were collected between July and October 2008. To analyze the data, chi-square test, Kruskal Wallis test and Mann Whitney U test were used.The average age of women within the study scope was 35.7±0.5. Of the women who were included in the research, 16.3 % were illiterates, 83.7 % were literate. Of the women who were included in the research, 69.7 % were married, 25.6 % were single, 4.7 % were divorced and widowed.Of the women within the study scope, 71.5 % were housewife 5.6 % are civil servant, 8 % self employed, 15 % are the other group which consisted of still student, retired, or university-trained unemployed. Of the women within the study scope, 88.2 % had a health insurance, 11.7 % did not have any health insurance.In the study, it was found that the women gained 69 ±0.6 points averagely. When the knowledge points were evaluated in terms of associated factors such as, education level, health insurance, smoking, having person working in health sector in the family and having cancer history in the family, it were seen that the gained point were over the average.Of the women within the study scope, cancer could be prevented in 68.2%, but not be prevented 73.6 %. In 91%, it was found that early diagnosis increase chance of survival in cancer.66.6 % of women stated that all adult female must perform ?breast self examination? (BSE). But, 56.7 % did not perform ?breast self examination? (BSE).It can be said that the attitude of women relating to cancer is positive. The behavior of women relating to cancer detection was at medium level.As a result, it could be said that most of women knowledgeand attitude level relating to cancer without together weakness is not enough level. According to these results, training course about cancer must be planned for women using different sources. In this way, the level of information of women can be increased.Key words: Women, cancer, knowledge, attitude, influencing factors.