Women's delay in presenting breast cancer symptoms in Kurdistan-Iraq.

Background: Women in developing countries usually delay in presenting their symptoms as a part of the early diagnosis program. This study was conducted for analyzing the reason of patient's delay and its relation with socioeconomic and health conditions, knowledge, and women's belief about breast cancer (BC).

Methodology: This study used a cross-sectional design in the early detection center in Kurdistan (North Iraq). Women were interviewed about socioeconomic and health background, knowledge, and belief about BC.

Results: The median of patient delay in the BC symptomatic women in this study was higher (30 days) as compared with developed countries. Patient delay was longer in women who were widows, had a barely self-perceived economic status, and had chronic diseases. There was a significant relationship of patient delay with women's health motivation and perceived barrier to seeking medical care.

Conclusions: Health promotion program should emphasize on the women's motivation about early diagnosis and seeking to early detection.