Profile of Barriers to Breast Cancer Screening Among Libyan Women and its Predictors; A Study in Sirte

ABSTRACT Introduction: Breast screening can provides a chance for early detection of breast cancer. In Libya, breast cancer screening behaviors are scarce compared to women in Western countries.  This study aimed to explore the barriers to breast cancer screening among Libyan women resident in Sirte. It also examined the contribution of selected socio-demographic characteristics and knowledge about breast cancer risk factors to perceiving more barriers to screening. Methods:  A cross-sectional descriptive study of a 300 Libyan females was conducted among Libyan women residents in Sirte, from May 2020 to February 2021 using self-administered, constructed questionnaire for data collection, including inquiries about socio-demographics data and data relevant to breast cancer, its risk factors and the breast cancer-screening barrier. Data were analysed using SPSS software.  Results: The most frequently reported barrier to screening was an economic barrier, followed by a healthcare access barrier. The high reporting barriers group represented more than half of the respondents (53.7%). Only three variables showed a statistically significant association with reporting a higher number of barriers to screening: age, income, and knowledge about breast cancer risk factors. These three variables were entered into a binary logistic regression model and showed that income is a predictor of more perceived barriers to screening. The model revealed that knowledge about breast cancer risk factors does not contribute to barriers to screening (p > 0.05).  Conclusion: This study was identified economic, personal, and health care barriers. Addressing these barriers with emphasizing on providing medical insurance are highly recommended and providing educational interventions for improving breast cancer knowledge should be incorporated as core components of the screening program within the healthcare system.