Predictors affecting breast self‐examination practice among undergraduate female students in Klang Valley, Malaysia

Abstract

Aim: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide, including Malaysia. In developing countries, predictors affecting breast self-examination (BSE) practice are different. This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of BSE practice and the predictors affecting BSE practice among undergraduate female students in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 820 female undergraduate students to assess the BSE performance and related determinants of BSE practice in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Data were collected via a self-administered structured questionnaire that was developed for this study. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 21.7 ± 1.2 years old. Most of them were single (96.8%), Malay (91.9%) and 19.6% of the participants performed BSE regularly. Multivariate logistic regression modeling revealed that BSE performance was more likely among women who have checked their breast with a doctor (odds ratio = 2.04, P = 0.00), and women who have personal history of breast disease (odds ratio = 4.43, P = 0.03). Conclusion:The findings showed a low BSE practice rate among young Malaysian women. Hence, the community's breast health awareness is needed to improve breast cancer prevention among young Malaysian women.

Relationship between demographic factors, health education, breast cancer‐related knowledge, attitudes, and breast self‐examination behavior among Chinese female college student: A structural equation analysis

“…Our study showed that only 14.7% of the college students performed BSE, which needs enhancement and deserves social attention. This result is slightly less than similar studies conducted in Malaysia (19.6%), 24 Ethiopia (21.4%), 19 and Iran (24.6%) 20 targeting female students. The different results may be due to the methodological and regional differences.…”

“…On the contrary, fear, anxiety, and embarrassment were described as barriers of BSE practice. 18,24,39 Furthermore, attitudes towards breast cancer play the intermediary role between knowledge and BSE performance. This indicates that the positive psychological factors are beneficial for the students to carry out BSE actively.…”

“…However, a study done by Akhtari-Zavare et al showed that personal history of breast disease was associated with BSE among female undergraduate students in Malaysia. 24 The different results may be attributed to respective methodology, sample size, and respondents (2233 students from China vs. 820 students from Malaysia).…”

“…It is recognized that BSE behavior is influenced by multiple factors. Previous studies identified that demographic factors, 20,21 health education, 22,23 personal history of breast disease, 24 breast cancer-related knowledge, [19][20][21] and attitudes 19,20,25 were all related to BSE behavior among female college students. However, few studies have been performed on the interrelationship and the strength of the relationship between these influencing factors and female college students' BSE behavior.…”

Result of randomized control trial to increase breast health awareness among young females in Malaysia

“…According to the Third National Health Morbidity Survey [ 6 ], the prevalence rate for breast examination in Malaysia was 70.35 %, where the highest was for breast self-examination (57.14 %), followed by clinical breast examination (51.77 %) and mammography (7.57 %) [ 6 ]. Based on the results of another studies, low percentages of clinical breast examination (23.3 %), breast self-examination (19.6 %), and intention to perform breast self-examination (18.5 %) were observed among Malaysian women [ 7 – 9 ]. Such results clearly show the need for awareness campaigns that raise the knowledge of young women about breast cancer and the need for the involvement of social media in promoting public breast health [ 6 – 9 ].…”