Abstract
Breast cancer continues to be a major health concern worldwide, including Egypt, where late diagnosis rates remain high despite numerous awareness campaigns. While there is significant literature on issues shaping attendance in breast cancer(BC) screening in both Global North and Global South, this paper explores the different experiences of affluent, working-class, and illiterate women in Egypt, using semi-structured interviews with 29 Egyptian women aged 37 to 70. Although education has been addressed in BC screening studies, this paper contributes insights on differences in contextual experience between women of different social classes in a middle-income country. Three major themes were identified, including awareness of breast cancer, trust, and interpersonal relations. Affluent women relied on private services due to convenience and personal connections with trusted practitioners, they did not always uptake screening, citing busyness and laziness but could, for example, take a blood test for cancer instead. Working-class women were the most diligent in attending screenings, often making significant efforts to compare private and public services based on trustworthiness and cost,with decisions influenced by personal experiences and distrust of private practitioners offering questionable services. Illiterate women were aware of screening, often lacked access to free-screenings and rarely attended. These women expressed mistrust due to personal experiences with cancer-related deaths and the perception that healthcare was neglecting the poor. In conclusion, the study’s findings could serve as a basis for more inclusive public health strategies, urging policymakers to improve healthcare accessibility across all social classes, with a particular focus on lower-income women.
Presenters
Basma SalemMedia and Communication and Public Relations, Newcastle University, Leicestershire, United Kingdom
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Health Promotion and Education
KEYWORDS
BREAST CANCER, SCREENING UPTAKE, SOCIO-ECONOMIC DISPARITIES, TRUST
