Associated Factors with Adopting Preventive Behaviors for Breast Cancer in Iran

Background: Considering the remarkable role of students in society and the relatively high prevalence of breast cancer in women, this study aimed to determine the factors related to adopting preventive behaviors for breast cancer in students. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The study population consisted of 375 female students of Qazvin city, who were selected by stratified random sampling during the year 2019. Data collection tools included a demographic and contextual questionnaire and a valid and reliable questionnaire for measuring breast cancer preventive behaviors. Data were analyzed using SPSS 23 software program, descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Results: Using there was a statistically significant relationship between adopting preventive behaviors against breast cancer and physical activity (P <0.001), so that the chances of adopting good preventive behaviors in students with "occasionally", "rarely" and "never" physical activity were respectively 0.410, 0.113, and 0.098 times chance for the students with daily physical activity. There was a significant relationship between breast cancer prevention and academic years (p= 0.027), so that the chances of adopting good-level preventive behaviors in the senior students was 1.498 times higher than the first year students. There was also a significant relationship between adopting preventive behaviors and employment (P = 0.017), so that the chances of adopting good-level preventive behaviors in unemployed students was 1.725 times higher than that of the employed students. Conclusion: Students with lower education and less physical activity and the employed individuals less commonly adopted preventive behaviors. Therefore, it is necessary to pay more attention to these students in designing educational programs.