Practices of Breast Self-Examination and Associated Factors among Female Debre Berhan University Students

Abstract

Background Breast cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer in Ethiopia of all female cancers. It is considered to be a progressive disease with a poor prognosis if detected late. Breast self-examination is an important prevention method of breast cancer. This study was aimed at assessing practice and associated factors of breast self-examination (BSE) among female Debre Berhan University students in Ethiopia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2015 among 420 using self-administrated questionnaire. Multistage sampling technique was used to select the study participants. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were done. Results Majority of the study participants, 338 (84.5%), were between 20 and 24 years old with the mean age of 21.1 ± 1.65. Only 14 (3.5%) had family history of breast cancer. Two hundred fifty-six (64%) of the participants had heard about BSE and 30.25% had good knowledge about BSE. Mass media were the most common source of information about breast cancer. Few of the participants (28.3%) had performed BSE. Lack of knowledge on how to perform BSE was cited as the main reason for not practicing BSE. Knowing how to perform, when to perform, and position to perform BSE and having a perception that BSE is important and useful to detect breast cancer were significant predictors of practices of BSE. Conclusions This study revealed that most of the participants had low knowledge and practice of BSE. Therefore, it important to develop health educational programs in the university to raise awareness about BSE and breast cancer so as to practice self-breast examination.

<p>Breast Self-Examination Practice and Associated Factors Among Secondary School Female Teachers in Gammo Gofa Zone, Southern, Ethiopia</p>

“…5 It is the leading cancer among females with a 24.4% prevalence rate and 26,200 women died of breast cancer in 2014. 6 Thus, morbidity and mortality associated with breast cancer can be reduced through early detection by means of screening programs, which not only increase the chances for successful treatment and cure of the disease, but also improve chances of survival and lessens the need forinvasive treatment. 7 Breast self-examination (BSE) is the most important and recommended screening method for early detection of breast cancer.…”

“…8 BSE is the process whereby women examine their breasts regularly to detect any breast mass in order to seek early medical attention. 6 It is one of the screening methods used to detect breast-related problems such as possible lumps, distortions, or swelling 2,9 and it is recommended for every woman above the age of 20 years to be done for 20 min once monthly, 2 between the 7th and 10th days of the menstrual cycle (2-3 days after the menses has gone), and goes a long way in detecting breast cancer at early stages of growth when there is a low risk of spread, ensuring a better prognosis when treated. 6 However, in Ethiopia, breast cancer screening practice among women was only 6.9%.…”

“…6 It is one of the screening methods used to detect breast-related problems such as possible lumps, distortions, or swelling 2,9 and it is recommended for every woman above the age of 20 years to be done for 20 min once monthly, 2 between the 7th and 10th days of the menstrual cycle (2-3 days after the menses has gone), and goes a long way in detecting breast cancer at early stages of growth when there is a low risk of spread, ensuring a better prognosis when treated. 6 However, in Ethiopia, breast cancer screening practice among women was only 6.9%. 10 Different studies conclude this may be due to lack of uniform information, education, and communication about the breast cancer disease, and screening methods were found to be a public health challenge.…”

Knowledge, Attitude, Practice towards Breast Cancer and Breast Self-examination among Female Undergraduate Students in Karachi, Pakistan

“…Slightly less prevalence (17.33% and 11.4% respectively) were reported in other Pakistani studies, [20,22] on the other hand, When comparing our findings with other Islamic countries, different studies has reported varying percentages such as Akhtari-Zavare in Hamedan iran [13] found that 37.5% of their participants' family member have had breast cancer however, another study by Ghodsi in Hamedan Iran reported that only 13% have such family history [23]. More or less similar statistics were reported by studies conducted in Jorden [24] and UAE [25] (12.5% and 9.2% respectively) whereas in African countries like Ethiopia and Cameron very low prevalence were reported (3% -3.5 %) [26,27].…”

“…Likewise a study in Iran on 119 health professional claimed that 87.4% of the participants perform BSE and 39.5% perform it on regular monthly basis [32]. Various other global researches also reported deficiency in BSE practice among females [12,24,26,27,29,33].…”