American Journal of Health Research

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Knowledge and Practice of Breast Self Examination Among Female College Students in Eritrea

Received: 28 May 2016    Accepted: 12 June 2016    Published: 18 July 2016
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Abstract

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women worldwide. It can be detected at an early stage through breast self-examination as it is the main tool for early detection of breast cancer in developing countries because of its simplicity, applicability and cost effectiveness. The objective of the study was to assess the level of Knowledge and Practice of breast self-examination among female college students in Eritrea. Across sectional study was conducted from January to March 2016 in all colleges of Eritrea. The students were divided into two practical strata as health science and non-health science students. From the strata, 380 participants were selected using systematic random sampling based on probability proportionate to size. Self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. Data was analyzed using SPSS statistical package version 20.0. This study found that only 30.1% of the students had knowledge about breast self-examination and 11.7% practiced breast self examination (BSE). The three main reasons for not practicing were lack of knowledge on how to perform BSE (34%), the belief that there is no problem with their breast (26.4%) and they didn’t think they should be examined (12.8%). Media (52.1%) and Health worker (18.3%) were the main sources of information on BSE. In conclusion, the knowledge and practice level of BSE was found to be low. Therefore, an intensive health education program should be implemented mainly through mass media and at health care facilities.

DOI 10.11648/j.ajhr.20160404.16
Published in American Journal of Health Research (Volume 4, Issue 4, July 2016)
Page(s) 104-108
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Knowledge, Practice, Breast Cancer, Breast Self Examination, College Students

References
[1] Porter, “Westernizing” women’s risks? Breast cancer in lower –income countries. The New England Journal of Medicine, 2008, 358 (3): 213–216.
[2] American Cancer Society. Breast Cancer Facts and Figures. Atlanta, Ga: American Cancer Society; 2012.
[3] American Cancer Society. (2007). Breast Cancer Facts and Figures 2006–2007. Atlanta: Georgia: American Cancer Society.
[4] World Health Organization - Cancer Country Profiles, 2014.www.who.int/country profile.
[5] Reports from Eritrean Ministry Of Health HMIS office (2015).
[6] Duffy SW, Tabar L, Vitak B, Warwick J (2006). Tumor size and breast cancer detection: what might be the effect of less sensitive screening tool than mammography? Breast J; 12 (1): S91-95.
[7] Gupta SK, Pal DK, Garg R, et al (2009). Impact of a health education intervention program regarding breast self-examination by women in a semi-urban area of madhyapradesh, India. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 10, 1113-7.
[8] Philip J, Harris G, Flaherty C, Joslin CAF. Clinical measures to assess the practice and efficiency of breastself-examination. Cancer. 1986; 58: 973-977.
[9] Fetene Kasahun Amogne; Assessment of Breast Cancer Knowledge and Practice of Breast Self-Examination Among Female Students in Madawalabu University, Bale, Ethiopia, 2014.
[10] Assob Jules Clement Nguedia, NdeFon Peter, Kwenti Tebit Emmanuel, Niunda Anna Longdoh and Tainenbe Taddi Raissa Guidona (2015). Knowledge and practice of breast self-examination among female undergraduate students in the University of Buea, Ghana
[11] Binti Suut Norliza, (2010); Knowledge and practice of breast self-examination among female undergraduate students in University Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS).
[12] Gwarzo, K. Sabitu and S. H. Idris; Knowledge and Practice of breast self-examination among female undergraduate students of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, northwestern Nigeria; Annals of African Medicine Vol. 8, No. 1; 2009: 55-58.
Author Information
  • School of Public Health, Asmara College of Health Sciences, Asmara, Eritrea

  • School of Public Health, Asmara College of Health Sciences, Asmara, Eritrea

  • School of Public Health, Asmara College of Health Sciences, Asmara, Eritrea

  • School of Public Health, Asmara College of Health Sciences, Asmara, Eritrea

  • School of Public Health, Asmara College of Health Sciences, Asmara, Eritrea

  • School of Public Health, Asmara College of Health Sciences, Asmara, Eritrea

  • School of Public Health, Asmara College of Health Sciences, Asmara, Eritrea

  • School of Public Health, Asmara College of Health Sciences, Asmara, Eritrea

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  • APA Style

    Meron Mehari Kifle, Eyob Azaria Kidane, Nahom Kiros Gebregzabher, Adam Mengsteab Teweldeberhan, Feven Ngusse Sielu, et al. (2016). Knowledge and Practice of Breast Self Examination Among Female College Students in Eritrea. American Journal of Health Research, 4(4), 104-108. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20160404.16

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    ACS Style

    Meron Mehari Kifle; Eyob Azaria Kidane; Nahom Kiros Gebregzabher; Adam Mengsteab Teweldeberhan; Feven Ngusse Sielu, et al. Knowledge and Practice of Breast Self Examination Among Female College Students in Eritrea. Am. J. Health Res. 2016, 4(4), 104-108. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.20160404.16

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    AMA Style

    Meron Mehari Kifle, Eyob Azaria Kidane, Nahom Kiros Gebregzabher, Adam Mengsteab Teweldeberhan, Feven Ngusse Sielu, et al. Knowledge and Practice of Breast Self Examination Among Female College Students in Eritrea. Am J Health Res. 2016;4(4):104-108. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.20160404.16

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajhr.20160404.16,
      author = {Meron Mehari Kifle and Eyob Azaria Kidane and Nahom Kiros Gebregzabher and Adam Mengsteab Teweldeberhan and Feven Ngusse Sielu and Kisanet Haile Kidane and Shamm Habteab Weldemenkerios and Mikias Gebrezghabher Tesfay},
      title = {Knowledge and Practice of Breast Self Examination Among Female College Students in Eritrea},
      journal = {American Journal of Health Research},
      volume = {4},
      number = {4},
      pages = {104-108},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajhr.20160404.16},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20160404.16},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajhr.20160404.16},
      abstract = {Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women worldwide. It can be detected at an early stage through breast self-examination as it is the main tool for early detection of breast cancer in developing countries because of its simplicity, applicability and cost effectiveness. The objective of the study was to assess the level of Knowledge and Practice of breast self-examination among female college students in Eritrea. Across sectional study was conducted from January to March 2016 in all colleges of Eritrea. The students were divided into two practical strata as health science and non-health science students. From the strata, 380 participants were selected using systematic random sampling based on probability proportionate to size. Self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. Data was analyzed using SPSS statistical package version 20.0. This study found that only 30.1% of the students had knowledge about breast self-examination and 11.7% practiced breast self examination (BSE). The three main reasons for not practicing were lack of knowledge on how to perform BSE (34%), the belief that there is no problem with their breast (26.4%) and they didn’t think they should be examined (12.8%). Media (52.1%) and Health worker (18.3%) were the main sources of information on BSE. In conclusion, the knowledge and practice level of BSE was found to be low. Therefore, an intensive health education program should be implemented mainly through mass media and at health care facilities.},
     year = {2016}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Knowledge and Practice of Breast Self Examination Among Female College Students in Eritrea
    AU  - Meron Mehari Kifle
    AU  - Eyob Azaria Kidane
    AU  - Nahom Kiros Gebregzabher
    AU  - Adam Mengsteab Teweldeberhan
    AU  - Feven Ngusse Sielu
    AU  - Kisanet Haile Kidane
    AU  - Shamm Habteab Weldemenkerios
    AU  - Mikias Gebrezghabher Tesfay
    Y1  - 2016/07/18
    PY  - 2016
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20160404.16
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajhr.20160404.16
    T2  - American Journal of Health Research
    JF  - American Journal of Health Research
    JO  - American Journal of Health Research
    SP  - 104
    EP  - 108
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-8796
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20160404.16
    AB  - Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women worldwide. It can be detected at an early stage through breast self-examination as it is the main tool for early detection of breast cancer in developing countries because of its simplicity, applicability and cost effectiveness. The objective of the study was to assess the level of Knowledge and Practice of breast self-examination among female college students in Eritrea. Across sectional study was conducted from January to March 2016 in all colleges of Eritrea. The students were divided into two practical strata as health science and non-health science students. From the strata, 380 participants were selected using systematic random sampling based on probability proportionate to size. Self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. Data was analyzed using SPSS statistical package version 20.0. This study found that only 30.1% of the students had knowledge about breast self-examination and 11.7% practiced breast self examination (BSE). The three main reasons for not practicing were lack of knowledge on how to perform BSE (34%), the belief that there is no problem with their breast (26.4%) and they didn’t think they should be examined (12.8%). Media (52.1%) and Health worker (18.3%) were the main sources of information on BSE. In conclusion, the knowledge and practice level of BSE was found to be low. Therefore, an intensive health education program should be implemented mainly through mass media and at health care facilities.
    VL  - 4
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

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