The impact of health literacy on breast cancer prevention

Abstract

Although breast cancer is one of the types of cancer that most affects and kills women in Brazil, there is still a deficit in the early screening of this pathology associated with limited literacy in women's health. This study aims to evaluate the health literacy (HL) of women concerning breast cancer. Data were obtained through interviews with patients between 50 and 69 years old, using a semi-structured socioeconomic questionnaire and an LS assessment instrument, and a review of the scientific literature. 83 women were interviewed who indicated that inadequate SL is associated with older age, more children, lower individual monthly income and lower education level, compared to women with adequate SL. Thus, a high rate of inadequate SL was evidenced in women of age for early detection of breast cancer, associated with conditions of social inequality.