Knowledge and practice of breast self-examination among undergraduate students in Bahir Dar University, North-West Ethiopia, 2016: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide, with nearly 1.7 million new cases diagnosed each year which accounts 12% of all new cancer cases and 25% of all cancers in women. Breast self-examination offers women the best opportunity for reducing breast cancer deaths. From a total of 222 respondents about 190 (85.6%) heard about breast selfexamination. One hundred forty-three (75.3%) had good knowledge about sign and symptoms of breast cancer and 47 (24.7%) had poor knowledge about the sign and symptoms of breast cancer. From total respondents of the study 120 (54.1%) practiced breast self-examination. Breast selfexamination practice is relatively frequent problem in Bahir Dar University, health science students. Negligence, forgetfulness and lack of knowledge are the main factors for poor practice of breast self-examination. Public health education using the media, clubs and leaflet could significantly reduce poor practice of breast self-examination and increases early detection of breast lump.

Keywords: Bahir Dar University; Ethiopia; North West; college of health sciences; knowledge and practice of breast self-examination.