Assessing adherence and identifying barriers to breast cancer screening among females in the central region (Riyadh) of Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Breast cancer is a frequent female malignancy worldwide. Central Saudi women can benefit from breast cancer screening. This study examines adult women’s adherence to breast cancer screening standards and the main impediments to participation. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in the Central Region (Riyadh) of Saudi Arabia from 13 September 2025 to 28 February 2026. 404 people took the survey. The majority of participants were younger than 30 years (37.9%), followed by participants aged 40–49 (23.8%). Most participants (96.5–99.5%) endorsed the listed benefits of breast cancer screening, whereas 66.1% reported knowing how to screen for breast cancer. Most participants supported screening even in the absence of symptoms (86.4%) and reported that they would follow a doctor’s recommendation (84.9%). Regular mammography was reported by 21.5% of the full sample and by 43.1% of participants aged ≥40 years. The most frequently reported barrier was believing that screening was unnecessary in the absence of symptoms (69.8%), followed by fear of examination (55.2%), time constraints (49.0%), and fear of the results (48.8%). Participants generally recognized the importance of breast cancer screening, but screening practices remained limited. Commonly reported concerns included the belief that screening was unnecessary without symptoms, fear of examination and results, and time constraints. These findings suggest that awareness alone may not be sufficient to improve screening uptake.