A new study has found that fewer than half of Bahraini women who have undergone a mammogram continue with regular screening as recommended, highlighting the need for stronger efforts to encourage women to maintain routine check-ups.
The research identified several barriers that may contribute to the low rate of regular screening. The most commonly cited reason was the belief that mammography is unnecessary in the absence of symptoms, reported by 41.7 per cent of participants. Fear of pain, concern about a cancer diagnosis and lack of time were also among the main obstacles.
To address these issues, the study recommended greater physician involvement, electronic reminder systems and increased public awareness of breast cancer risk factors, particularly among women at higher risk.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women in Bahrain, with the kingdom recording an age-standardised incidence rate of 52.3 cases per 100,000 women – the highest among the GCC states.
A representational image of breast cancer cells
“While therapeutic advancements have improved survival rates, early diagnosis remains the most effective strategy for mortality reduction and improved prognosis,” the study noted.
“Mammography is considered the gold standard for breast cancer screening because of its effectiveness in reducing mortality and treatment-related complications. However, research noted that only a relatively small proportion of breast cancer cases in Bahrain are detected through screening.”
The findings come from a research titled ‘Barriers and Facilitators of Mammography Screening among Bahraini Women: A Cross-sectional Study in Primary Care,’ which looked at women’s experiences and attitudes towards mammography screening.
A chart from the study showing mammography screening among participants
Conducted by a group of medical students from the Arabian Gulf University, the study surveyed 400 Bahraini women with an average age of 54.4 years. About one-third (32.8pc) reported a family history of breast cancer, while 13.8pc had a personal history of benign breast disease.
The researchers used a multistage sampling approach across Bahrain’s five health regions, randomly selecting primary healthcare centres to ensure geographic representation.
Data was collected through face-to-face interviews using a questionnaire in Arabic and English. It examined the women’s demographics and medical history, their knowledge and attitudes towards breast cancer and mammography, previous screening practices, and barriers to screening.
“The findings showed that while 68pc of participants had undergone mammography at some point, only 43.8pc of those women continued screening periodically in line with recommended guidelines,” the study said.
“The remaining 56.2pc had undergone mammography only once or twice.”
The study also shed light on why women were not keeping up with regular screening.
“The most common reason, cited by 41.7pc, was that they had no physical symptoms, followed by lack of time (41pc) and fear of pain or receiving a cancer diagnosis (38.9pc),” the study added.
The findings also highlighted gaps in women’s awareness of breast cancer risk factors.
While participants generally demonstrated average to good knowledge of the disease, awareness was lower regarding several established risk factors, including prolonged use of oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy, delayed pregnancy and never having been pregnant.
The researchers also pointed to concerns about women at higher risk of developing breast cancer.
“Twenty per cent of women who were not undergoing regular mammography had a family history of breast cancer, placing them in a group that may require closer monitoring,” the study said.
However, the findings highlighted opportunities to improve screening uptake.
“Physician recommendations were the strongest motivator for women to undergo mammography, cited by 66.9pc of participants, followed by awareness campaigns,” the study said.
“This underscores the trust Bahraini women place in their primary healthcare providers and suggests that doctors could play a greater role in encouraging women to attend regular screenings,” it added.
For women at higher risk, the researchers recommended using electronic health system alerts to remind healthcare workers when screening is due, as well as sending reminder messages and following up with women who miss appointments.
They also called for wider use of social media, posters, leaflets and videos to raise awareness of breast cancer risk factors and reinforce the message that screening is intended for women who may have no symptoms.
The study concluded that improving screening rates will require moving beyond general awareness to addressing fears, misconceptions and gaps in knowledge. More research should also be conducted to examine healthcare professionals’ attitudes and practices towards mammography screening.
Another Bahraini study published this year, ‘Updated Key Determinants of Breast Cancer Risk in Bahrain: A Comprehensive Analysis,’ urged younger women with a family history of breast cancer to consider genetic testing and discuss preventive surgery options with their doctors.
The research, published in the Bahrain Medical Bulletin, found that women in Bahrain under the age of 55 and those with a family history of cancer faced a significantly higher risk of developing breast cancer compared with women in the US and other Western countries.
julia@gdnmedia.bh
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