A qualitative study exploring the role of ethnicity, culture and religion on awareness of breast health

This UK based study explores breast cancer knowledge among women from various ethnic and religious backgrounds and examines how cultural contexts influence health beliefs and behaviours. Qualitative focus groups were conducted with women aged 18–60 from African, Caribbean, Indian, Pakistani, and White European backgrounds. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and analysed using thematic analysis. Five focus groups with 29 participants revealed six main themes: (1) Health Knowledge and Awareness, (2) Health Education and Information Access, (3) Emotional and Psychological Barriers, (4) Cultural Norms and Health Conversations, (5) Healthcare Interactions, and (6) Religion and Community Support. While awareness of breast cancer was high, detailed knowledge of risk factors, symptoms, and screening was limited across all groups. Cultural norms and community support influenced health behaviours; however, these influences operated differently across groups and intersected with shared emotional and informational barriers, including fear, avoidance and limited health literacy. The study highlights the need for both universal improvements in breast health education and culturally sensitive approaches to enhance breast cancer awareness, healthcare interactions, and screening uptake among ethnic minority women within the UK context.