Knowledge, Attitude And Practice Of Breast Self-Examination Among Female Medical Students In The University Of Lagos

摘要

Background: Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality in women worldwide. The incidence of breast cancer is rising more rapidly in population groups that enjoyed a low incidence of the disease.Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge, attitude and practice of breast self-examination (BSE) among female medical students in University of Lagos.Method: The study was designed as a cross sectional survey of female students in the college of medicine. The aim was to assess level of their knowledge about breast cancer, attitude and their practice of BSE. A self-administered questionnaire prepared by the author was employed. Consent was obtained and assurance of confidentiality of responses was given to each respondent. Results: Majority of the respondents, 40.7% were from the age group 21-22 drawn from first to sixth year medical students.97.3% had heard of breast cancer and breast self-examination.54.8% of the respondents heard of breast cancer from television/ radio. Most of the respondents, 85.8% knew how to perform breast self-examination correctly. Only 65.4% of the respondents thought that breast self-examination was necessary. 43.5% of the respondents said that the last time they performed breast self-examination less than a year ago. Majority of the respondents, 69.6% preferred to perform breast self-examination in the morning while 47.7% of the respondents preferred to carry out breast self-examination in front of the mirror.Conclusion: There was a high level of awareness of breast cancer and breast self-examination among the respondents. Their attitude towards breast cancer and breast self-examination was fair though the practice was poor. Introduction Cancers in all forms are responsible for about 12 per cent of deaths throughout the world (Park, 2002). Globally, breast cancer is the most common malignant neoplasm among women (Leszczynskaet al., 2004; WHO, 2006). Breast cancer causes 376,000 deaths a year worldwide; about 900,000 women are diagnosed every year with the disease (WHO, 1997).Although the incidence of breast cancer in developing countries is relatively low (Koet al., 2003), about 50% of all cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in these countries (Haji-Mahmoodiet al., 2002; Sadler et al., 2001). Based on a study during 1975–1990, Asia and Africa have experienced a more rapid rise in the annual incidence rate of breast cancer than that of North America and Europe (Shiraziet al., 2006).Although mammography remains the best single diagnostic tool in the detection of breast cancer it is not routinely performed in Nigeria due to low level of awareness, ignorance, illiteracy, cost, high technology equipment and ex?pertise required. False negative for mammography is higher in the younger age group, and this is likely to happen in Nigeria where cases below the age of 30 have been widely reported (Anyanwu, 2000; Wu and Yu, 2003; Banjo, 2004).There is also evidence that most of the early breast tumours are self-discovered and that the majority of early self-discoveries are by breast self-examination (BSE) performers (Okobiaet al., 2006).Cavdaret al (2007) reported that most female physi?cians and nurses (65% and 70% respectively) believed that BSE was unnecessary; therefore the need to evaluate breast cancer awareness, attitude and practice among female students who are going to be our future health personnel. Method The study was designed as a cross sectional survey of female students in the college of medicine. The aim was to assess level of their knowledge about breast cancer, attitude and their practice of breast self-examination (BSE).ParticipantsThe study was conducted in June, 2010 at College of Medicine of the University of Lagos, Nigeria. Consent was obtained and assurance of confidentiality of responses was given to each respondent.A self-administered questionnaire prepared by the author was employed. Questions were partly drawn using information on breast cancer from th