Assessing Breast Cancer Awareness Among Women in Al Baha, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study Using the Breast Cancer Awareness Measure (BCAM)

Introduction: Breast cancer (BC) awareness and preventive practices are critical for the early detection and effective management of the disease. This study aimed to assess the level of BC awareness among women residing in Al Baha, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using the Breast Cancer Awareness Measure (BCAM) survey tool to evaluate BC awareness among female residents of Al Baha between June and July 2023. The sample was obtained through the snowball sampling technique. Results: A total of 1007 women participated in the study, with a mean age of 29 +/- 10.9 years. Overall awareness of BC warning signs and risk factors was low, with 45% of participants demonstrating poor awareness. Significant positive associations were found between BC awareness and factors such as level of education (p = 0.020), employment status (p = 0.023), field of study for students (p < 0.0001), and average monthly family income (p = 0.001). Furthermore, 75% of participants rarely or never practiced breast self-examination, and only 37% of those invited to the Ministry of Health's screening program had attended. Conclusions: The results highlight a significant lack of awareness and knowledge about BC among women in Al Baha. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted educational initiatives and awareness campaigns to address this knowledge gap and promote preventive practices.