Teaching rural women in Nicaragua the principles of breast health.

摘要

Breast cancer has emerged as an important health condition worldwide, including developing countries. Screening is limited or non-existent in resource-poor areas. The purpose of this study was to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices of self (SBE) and clinical (CBE) breast examinations among 198 rural Nicaraguan women. Ten (5.1) had performed a SBE, and 16 (8.1) had a CBE. CBE was significantly associated with a pre-instruction total score of 70 or greater (OR = 13.7, 95 CI = 1.26, 149.70, p = 0.03). Family history of breast cancer was significantly associated with performing a SBE (OR = 5.5, 95 CI = 1.10, 27.81, p = 0.037) and a CBE (OR = 7.1, 95 CI = 1.40, 35.94, p = 0.018). A CBE is a significant determinant of pre-existing breast health knowledge. Physicians or physician extenders should be encouraged to perform a CBE as a routine component of health care delivery and cancer screening for women.