Effects of nursing interventions which is planned with the health promotion models on the early detection behaviour towards breast and cervical cancer of low income women

Objective: The aim of this study is to identify the barriers in the early detection behaviour of breast and cervical cancer of low income women, to enable women to do breast self examination every month regularly, have clinical breast examination done, get a mammography and pap test.Method: The study has been done in two stages. The first stage is the qualitative study which identifies the barriers in the early detection behaviour of low income women. Forty women has been interviewed for breast cancer and 27 women for cervical cancer. Data was gathered through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using the content analysis method. The second stage is a quasi-experimental study which has been done by using Health Belief Model and Health Promotion Model on 100 low income women. Fifty of these women were in the experimental group and fifty were in the control group. Data were collected using Socio-Demographic Characteristics Information Form, Health Belief Model Scale, Self-Efficacy Scale, Healthy Life-Style Behavior Scale II-Health responsibility Subscale and Prior Releated Behavior Information Form.Results: The barriers obtained from the focus groups have been identified as individual attitudes and beliefs, delivery of health services, cultural factors for breast cancer and information inadequate, personal attitudes and behaviours and the delivery of health services for cervical cancer. After the nursing intervention it has been found out that whilst the ratio of the breast self examination and clinical breast examination done of the low income women in the experimental group have increased. There has been no difference between the experimental group and control group in terms of the ratio of having a mammography and pap smear test.Conclusion: Considering the results of this study it is suggested that in order to improve the early detection behaviour of breast and cervical cancer in low income women nursing intervention should be planned using Health Belief and Health Promotion Model. Also since one of the most important factors of low income women?s reason for not showing any early detection behaviour is having inadequate information, it is suggested that health education should be enhanced.Key Words: Breast and cervical cancer, early detection, poverty, nursing.