Broken yet Brave: Arabic Women's Experience of a Breast Cancer Diagnosis.

INTRODUCTION: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Arabic women and is often diagnosed in advanced stages, resulting in an increased likelihood of requiring a mastectomy. Despite this, there is a lack of contemporary literature exploring Arabic women's experiences of breast cancer and its sequelae. METHOD: Semi-structured interviews were conducted between 2019 and 2022 of Arabic women diagnosed with breast cancer. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis as described by Braun and Clark. RESULTS: Two main themes were identified: (a) Broken yet brave describes participants' experiences when diagnosed and (b) Making decisions about treatment and experiences of support detailing their lack of decision-making autonomy and perceptions of support. DISCUSSION: Arabic women believe in the concept of fate and faith, and their cultural conditioning is to prioritize family over themselves, often with limited support. They lack autonomy in decision-making due to the patriarchal society they live in.

Saudi Women's Breastfeeding Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Despite the health benefits of breastfeeding, Saudi women do not exclusively breastfeed their babies. The purpose of this article was to synthesize Saudi women's breastfeeding knowledge, attitude, and practices and identify the factors that women reported for their breastfeeding cessation. METHODOLOGY: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials and cross-sectional studies was undertaken. RESULTS: Saudi women reported poor knowledge in managing breastfeeding challenges and had a positive attitude toward formula feeding. Giving premade formula and sugar water was a common practice. The breastfeeding initiation rate (31.5%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: [22%, 41.8%]) and exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months were low (15.15, 95% CI: [8%, 24%]). Perceived low milk supply, returning to work, and using contraception were the main reasons for early breastfeeding cessation. DISCUSSION: The integration of Islamic, political, and economic cultures in Saudi Arabia can influence women's breastfeeding practices. There is a need for culturally appropriate breastfeeding educational programs for Saudi women.

Presentation, tumour and treatment features in immigrant women from Arabic-speaking countries treated for breast cancer in Australia.

BACKGROUND: Australia has a large population of immigrant women from Arabic-speaking countries. The aim of this study was to examine breast cancer tumour and surgical treatment features for women born in Arabic-speaking countries and compare them to women born in Australia and other countries. Another aim was to consider how this information can inform clinical care for this multicultural population. METHODS: This is a retrospective audit of an institutional breast cancer database. Demographic, tumour and surgical treatment data were extracted for the Arab women and compared to Australian-born women (comparison 1) and to women born in all other countries (comparison 2); chi-squared analysis was performed to test for differences between groups. RESULTS: A total of 2086 cases with country of birth information were identified, of whom 139 women (6.7%) were born in Arabic-speaking countries, 894 (42.8%) were born in Australia and 1053 (50.4%) were born in other countries (71 nations). Arab women tended to be younger (P = 0.013), more disadvantaged (P < 0.001), were more likely to have symptomatic rather than screen-detected breast cancer (P < 0.001), had a higher rate of high grade (P = 0.021), HER2-positive (P = 0.025) breast cancer compared to Australian-born women or others. There was no difference in tumour (pT) stage, rate of breast conservation versus mastectomy, re-excision and contralateral prophylactic mastectomy between groups. Australian-born women were more likely to undergo breast reconstruction after mastectomy (P < 0.001); reconstruction rate was >29% in all groups. CONCLUSION: Women born in Arabic-speaking countries were younger, more disadvantaged and showed more aggressive tumour features. This has implications for supportive care during treatment and survivorship.

Risk For Postpartum Depression Among Immigrant Arabic Women in the United States: A Feasibility Study.

INTRODUCTION: Postpartum depression (PPD) affects approximately 14% of women in the United States and 10% to 37% of Arabic women in the Middle East. Evidence suggests that immigrant women experience higher rates, but information on PPD among immigrant women of Arabic descent in the United States is nonexistent. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive feasibility study was conducted to assess the practicality of implementing a larger proposed research study to examine predictors of PPD in US immigrant women of Arabic descent residing in Dearborn, Michigan. Fifty women were recruited from an Arab community center and completed demographic data, the Arabic version of the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS), and the Postpartum Depression Predictors Inventory-Revised (PDPI-R). RESULTS: Among participants, 36% were considered at high risk for developing PPD. Lack of social support, antenatal anxiety, antenatal depression, maternity blues (feeling depressed during the first 4 weeks postpartum), and life stress were significantly related to risk for PPD. Multiple regression analysis revealed that social support (t = -3.77, P < .0001) and maternity blues (t = 2.19, P = .03) were the only significant predictors for postpartum depressive symptoms. DISCUSSION: Findings of this study describe the prevalence of PPD in a sample of US immigrant women of Arabic descent and support the feasibility of a larger and more in-depth understanding of their immigration and acculturation experiences. Study participants reported high risk for PPD. Maternity blues and lack of social support were significant predictors to the risk for PPD. Future research tailored to this minority group is recommended.

Breast Cancer Screening Beliefs Questionnaire: Psychometric properties assessment of the Arabic version.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to report the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the Breast Cancer Screening Beliefs Questionnaire (BCSBQ). METHODS: A convenience sample of 251 Arabic-Australian women was recruited from a number of Arabic community organizations. Construct validity was examined by Cuzick's non-parametric test while Cronbach α was used to assess internal consistency reliability. Explanatory factor analysis was conducted to study the factor structure. RESULTS: The results indicated that the Arabic version of the BCSBQ had satisfactory validity and internal consistency. The Cronbach's alpha of the three subscales ranged between 0.810 and 0.93. The frequency of breast cancer screening practices (breast awareness, clinical breast-examination and mammography) were significantly associated with attitudes towards general health check-up and perceived barriers to mammographic screening. Exploratory factor analysis showed a similar fit for the hypothesized three-factor structure with our data set. CONCLUSIONS: The Arabic version of the BCBSQ is a culturally appropriate, valid and reliable instrument for assessing the beliefs, knowledge and attitudes to breast cancer and breast cancer screening practices among Arabic-Australian women.