BREAST CANCER SCREENING IN JORDAN.BARRIERS AND CHALLENGES

Introduction and objective: Globally breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women. Breast cancer rank number one cancer in Jordan. National cancer registration began in 1996 with the establishment of Jordan Cancer Registry (JCR) . National efforts to promote universal screening for Jordanian women are led by Jordan Breast Cancer Program (JBCP), established in 2005.In the absence of regular systemic screening for breast cancer, mammography is an opportunistic health care service. Objective : to assess knowledge of breast cancer, mammography screening participation rate, barriers, attitudes and perceptions towards mammography screening among Jordanian women eligible for mammography screening. Methods: Reviewing national studies, investigating screening rates, knowledge, attitudes, perceptions and barriers towards mammography screening, based on national surveys done in 2006, 2011 and 2014. Results and conclusion: Mammography screening is low not exceeding 10%. Results revealed negative perceptions and limited knowledge of study participants on breast cancer and breast cancer screening. Most common barriers were; fear of results, no support from surrounding environment, cost of test and religious belief (fatalism).It is essential for the country of Jordan to work on applying regular systematic mammography screening for breast cancer. Other areas that could be targeted include access to screening in rural areas and removal of current barriers (mainly the need for providing free mammography screening; knowledge and misconceptions related to breast cancer and /or mammography screening in Jordan)