Arab Women's Breast Cancer Screening Practices: A Literature Review

Abstract

Materials and MethodsElectronic databases were queried for full text, English language, peer reviewed literature published between 2000 and 2011. These were: Medline (OVID), PubMed, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CINAHL Plus, Google Scholar, and Index Medicus for WHO Eastern Mediterranean. The Asian Pac J Cancer Prev was searched separately. Keywords that were used singularly and in combination were: Arab, Middle East, Gulf, women, breast cancer, screening, culture, mammography, beliefs, knowledge, attitude, barriers, facilitators. CINAHL Plus, Medline OVID, and PubMed were searched for breast cancer screening and each Arab country separately. Reference lists from relevant articles were studied to identify additional articles to include in the review. A total of 444 articles were found.

Breast Cancer in Bedouin-Arab Patients in Southern Israel: Epidemiologic and Biologic Features in Comparison with Jewish Patients

“…This finding of more advanced tumor presentation of BC in BA patients concurs with two previous reports on Palestinian patients residing in the Jerusalem area, and in Arab patients residing in northern Israel (Zidan et al, 2012). A late stage at presentation and locally-advanced BC has typically been reported in studies from Arab countries (Ortashi, 2013), and has been ascribed in these studies to failure to seek medical attention for early but palpable BC (Donnelly et al, 2013). Cultural reluctance to participate in screening mammography programs in the Arab population has been mentioned as a major impediment for early diagnosis of BC in these countries (Bener et al, 2010).…”

Socioeconomic Inequalities in Uptake of Breast Cancer Screening among Saudi Women: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of a National Survey

“…Compliance with mammography practices among Saudi women is low compared to European or other Western countries [21,38]. This is because the Arab regional context is different, and regional sociodemographic, cultural, religious and traditional belief systems have to be accounted for, in order to improve breast cancer screening practices [39,40]. This study revealed quantitative measurements in this regard, and recommends health promotion in poorer and less-educated women to increase screening efficacy.…”

Factors that Influence Awareness of Breast Cancer Screening among Arab Women in Qatar: Results from a Cross Sectional Survey

“…Promotional information should address the importance of early detection in the absence of symptoms, as well as concerns about privacy and fear of diagnosis. Educational materials and messages should clearly explain how early detection of breast cancer can increase women's treatment options and survival rates in the language and manner that is most suitable to the target culture (Donnelly 2006;Donnelly et al, 2013).…”