Barriers to women's breast cancer screening behaviors in several countries: A meta-synthesis study

In this meta-synthesis study, 47 qualitative studies that were conducted with a total of 2234 female participants aged between 18 and 75 years in 22 different countries were analyzed. The women were found to not participate breast cancer screening behaviors due to personal, social, and system barriers. Women's personal barriers were determined as fear, embarrassment, breast cancer perceptions and beliefs, lack of motivation, lack of knowledge, socioeconomic status, and negative experiences. Culture and stigma were identified as social barriers. Health insurance coverage, accessibility of health care services, and the attitudes of health care workers were classified as system barriers.

Automated summary

This study found that women's participation in breast cancer screening behaviors is hindered by personal, social, and system barriers. Personal barriers include fear, embarrassment, lack of knowledge, while social barriers include culture and societal stigma, and system barriers include health insurance coverage, accessibility of health care services, and healthcare workers' attitudes.