Perception and prevention of breast cancer in Primary Health Care

Abstract

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, 2.3 million cases and 685,000 deaths were recorded in 2020. In Ecuador, data from the Society for the Fight Against Cancer (SOLCA) indicate an incidence of 3,563 cases per 100,000 women for the same year. Objective: To assess the level of knowledge that female users and healthcare personnel possess regarding breast cancer prevention in Primary Health Care, with the aim of proposing strategies that strengthen early detection and preventive education. Materials and methods: A descriptive, prospective, quantitative, non-experimental study was conducted with a sample of 324 women. The data collection instrument was developed by the authors and validated by three experts. Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS and Microsoft Excel. Results: Only 16% of participants identified family history as a risk factor; 13.9% recognized late age at first childbirth; 27.2% mentioned being a woman as an inherent risk factor; and 11.4% identified overweight and obesity. Conclusion: The participants demonstrated limited knowledge regarding breast cancer prevention, underscoring the need to strengthen health promotion efforts and early detection strategies within Primary Health Care.