19. El-Jabari, C. The Prevalence of Breast Disease among Palestinian Women, 1994-1996 - The Demographic and Health Indicators of Women Attending a Non-governmental, Non-profit Mammography Clinic. Jerusalem: Patient’s Friends Society - Jerusalem, 1997: 49 pp.

A retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted using a sample of 1199 Palestinian women attending a mammography clinic from 1994 to 1996. The study examines the demographic and socio-physio factors associated with Palestinian women attending a mammography clinic. Data was gathered from clinic records based on interviews and questionnaires conducted at time of visit. Study results indicate that the mean age of all women seen at the clinic was 40 years. Of the study sample, 15.5% attended for a screening mammography. Of those women attending the clinic, 11.25% reported having a female relative with breast cancer. The number of malignant tumors found at this clinic was generally low at n=21 (1.75%). Fifty percent of all malignant microcalcifications were found in the 30-39 year age group. The author concludes that while this study found a low prevalence rate of carcinoma, health care providers should not be complacent.