| Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies among females in
Iran. Screening and detection in the early stages can increase the likelihood
of breast cancer treatment and prognosis, thereby decreasing the mortality
rate and promoting patient survival. However, mass screening programs
for breast cancer are still confronted by predominant barriers in Iran. We
tried to review and recognize the barriers to breast cancer screening and
early detection in Iranian females as the main research question. We searched
all available databases, and screened manuscripts for eligibility according
to our inclusion/exclusion criteria. The search strategy was based on the
following keywords: Breast, Malignancy, Cancer, Screening, Early
Detection, Mammography, Iran, and Barrier. Responsible authors performed
a literature review and compiled the results into a report. Various perceived
barriers at different levels (individual, intrapersonal, health systems, and
community) play influential and pivotal roles in women’s decisions to
participate in breast cancer screening programs to facilitate early detection.
Lack of awareness, neglect, procrastination, embarrassment, religious
beliefs, and lack of primary health workers awareness and recommendation
were cited as perceived barriers in screening procedures in Iran. There are
still barriers in performing mammography at population levels in five major
dimensions including availability, accessibility, cost, fears, and acceptability.
However, the rate of regular mammography utilization in Iran is low compared
with other countries and needs increasing through informing women. Many
perceived barriers can affect women’s willingness and self-efficacy in
screening procedures and one of the most effective ways of overcoming
these barriers is to increase women’s awareness. |