Breast cancer prevention in women treated at Primary Care Unit

Raquel Leda de Arruda; Edvane Dias Teles; Natália Silva Machado; Francisca Jacinta Feitoza de Oliveira; Iolanda Graepp Fontoura; Adriana Gomes Nogueira Ferreira

doi:10.15253/2175-6783.2015000200002

Authors

Raquel Leda de Arruda Universidade Federal do Maranhão. Imperatriz, MA, Brazil.
Edvane Dias Teles Universidade Federal do Maranhão. Imperatriz, MA, Brazil.
Natália Silva Machado Universidade Federal do Maranhão. Imperatriz, MA, Brazil.
Francisca Jacinta Feitoza de Oliveira Universidade Federal do Maranhão. Imperatriz, MA, Brazil.
Iolanda Graepp Fontoura Universidade Federal do Maranhão. Imperatriz, MA, Brazil.
Adriana Gomes Nogueira Ferreira Universidade Federal do Maranhão. Imperatriz, MA, Brazil.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15253/2175-6783.2015000200002

Keywords:

Nursing, Breast Neoplasms, Women’s Health, Breast Cancer Prevention.

Abstract

Objective: to describe the profile of women treated at Primary Care Unit and identify the attitudes toward early detection of breast cancer. Methods: exploratory and descriptive research conducted with 40 women aged over 20 years, after nursing consultation. Results: it was verified that a share of participants presented risk factors for breast cancer, especially menarche before age 12, 57% (n=23); no breast examination during the consultation, 70% (n=28); and never have done breast examination, 57.5% (n=23). As for performing the self-examination, 80% (n=32) of women said they knew how to do it, of which 65.5% reported performing it monthly, 12.5% never did it, and 23% of women over 40 years did not undergo mammography. Conclusion: we highlight the need to develop effective educational interventions addressing the risk factors and early detection of breast cancer in the health services.