Women’s Community Participation Levels in Community-based Health Programs Regarding Breast Cancer Prevention in Metropolitan Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Iran has recognized community participation in health research as an essential part of the country's health system. Community participation is focused on the prevention of communicable diseases, mother and child care, family planning and first aid. Besides, the issues of health education and community participation regarding breast cancer prevention are not similar to other activities included into primary health care services, such as family planning in Iran. Within this context, increasing the participation of women community regarding breast cancer prevention, through recognized channels such as health workers, community leaders, health educators, health care professionals, teachers and women volunteers should be given high priority at on the community, district, province and national levels. Local community participation in health and wellbeing is strongly supported as a fundamental element to development. Thus, the objective of the current study was to identify the levels of women's community participation in community-based program on breast cancer prevention. The study involves a cross sectional survey of women who have participated in mammography in the last two years (n=86). The actual level of community participation was assessed based on Rifkin's perspective. Using five levels of participation in health programs by Rifkin (1991), the study examined the feasibility of public participation in health and relieves effort on breast cancer prevention based on local community participation. The study assessed the level of women's community participation in breast cancer prevention programs, due to the importance of women's role in the community. Women's community participation in breast cancer prevention is currently insignificant. The maintenance of benefits and activities denotes sustainability in community-based health programs. More researches are therefore needed to understand the role of local communities in the development of community-based health programs.

The Influence of Psycho-social Factors on Participation Levels in Community-based Breast Cancer Prevention Programs in Tehran, Iran

“…The two versions (Persian and English) of the questionnaire were reviewed by a group of experts in breast cancer screening and arrangement was achieved over the translation. More information of the psychometric assets of the scale and the instrument have been lately published elsewhere ( Ahmadian et al , 2010 ).…”

“…In other words, these are community- focused programs prepared for health promotion, especially breast cancer prevention along with family planning, maternal health, children vaccination and prenatal care, and other community health programs in Iran. More details related to women’s participation in breast cancer prevention programs in Iran have been recently published elsewhere ( Ahmadian et al , 2010 ).…”

Factors Related to Breast Cancer Screening Uptake Among Women in Asian Countries

“…Asian cultures express conservative attitudes towards women's bodily experiences and exposure. Previous studies have highlighted that women were hesitant or reluctant to breast cancer screening as it requires their bodies to be touched by the health care providers, especially male health care providers (Abdullah et al, 2011;M. Ahmadian, 2011;Parsa, Kandiah, Abdul Rahman, & Zulkefli, 2006).…”

Driving and Restraining Factors of Posdaya as Family Empowerment Program

“…Meanwhile, Ahmadian, Redzuan, Emby & Samah (2010) stated that the current study presented the levels of community participation in community based program about breast cancer by women who have participated in mammography. Based on the findings of this study it can be concluded that, levels of women community participation are limited.…”

“…To date, a comprehensive evaluation of Iranian women community participation and breast cancer prevention has not been undertaken. Finding will be useful, for this at risk population (women) with emphasis on their role in their own health development and its sustainability (Ahmadian, Redzuan, Emby, & Samah, 2010).…”