Correlation Between Demographic Attributes and Awareness Levels for the Early Detection of Breast Cancer in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: To reduce breast cancer incidence in Saudi Arabia, research, education, and public health measures should prioritize early detection. This study aimed to assess breast cancer symptoms and early-detection awareness among women aged ≥35 years recruited in Jeddah and to examine its association with age, educational attainment, marital status, and employment status. Methodology: This descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from June 1, 2024, to May 30, 2025. Local female residents of Jeddah were conveniently selected as contributors. Females who resided in Jeddah for at least six months were included in the study. Participants with suspected or confirmed breast cancer and those who did not meet the three main inclusion criteria (female, age 35 or older, and Jeddah residency for six months) were excluded. A purpose-designed questionnaire was developed, validated, and subsequently used for data collection. Statistical analysis was performed using the software of IBM SPSS Statistics Version 22 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). A total of 369 valid responses were included in the final analysis. Results: The analysis showed a major gap in early breast cancer detection awareness, with 255 (69.1%) of our respondents scoring poorly. Possession of a college degree or higher education was found to correlate significantly with moderate awareness levels (P-value = 0.004, adjusted odds ratio = 2.55 at a confidence interval of 95%, upper boundary = 4.86, lower boundary = 1.34, the coefficient B/standard error ratio = 2.80), while stable marriage showed a significant correlation with high awareness levels (P-value = 0.03, adjusted odds ratio = 3.3 at a confidence interval of 95%, upper boundary = 9.72, lower boundary = 1.125, the coefficient B/standard error ratio = 2.17). Awareness was not statistically determined by age group or employment status. Conclusion: Awareness of breast cancer symptoms and early detection procedures is inadequate among female residents of Jeddah. Awareness of breast cancer symptoms in this cohort positively correlated with higher educational attainment and stable marital status. No statistically significant correlation was found between age group or employment status and the level of awareness of breast cancer symptoms. Early detection of breast cancer in Jeddah should prioritize age-susceptible women with low education. It is recommended that future investigations evaluate these demographic characteristics in confirmed Saudi breast cancer patients.