Awareness of Mammographic Screening Amongst Females Visiting Breast Clinic at a Tertiary Care Hospital of Karachi

Abstract

Objective: To assess the awareness of mammographic screening among women visiting the breast clinic at a tertiary care facility in Karachi. Study Design and Setting: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre Karachi over one month period from 1-10-2019 to 31-10-2019. Methodology: After receiving ethical approval, relevant information from patients coming to the breast clinic over the study period, regarding age, level of education, family history, diagnosis and awareness regarding mammographic screening was recorded on specially designed proformas and was statistically analyzed on SPSS 23. P value </= to 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: Out of the 100 participants included in the study 68 patients had malignant lesions, 18 had a benign diagnosis while 14 patients were undiagnosed. Only 42 had at least some knowledge of mammographic screening of breast cancers and only 15 patients actually had a screening mammogram performed. Of those aware of the screening majority were informed regarding the procedure by health care professionals or through media sources. Only 4 out of 17 participants with a positive history of breast cancer in the family had the screening done. 12 patients diagnosed with malignant breast lesions were under the age of 40 years. Conclusion: Awareness of mammographic screening for breast cancer among females in our setup is still unsatisfactory and calls for improvements in the awareness programs for breast cancer screening. An early age at diagnosis for malignant breast lesions should prompt the concerned to revise the recommended lower age limit for commencing mammographic screening.