Breast Self Examination Practice and Associated Factors Among Women Seeking Care In Public Health Centers of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2016
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Date
2016-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women of developed and
developing countries. Among the screening methods, breast self-examination is the physical
examination of the women’s breasts that is conducted by oneself that is easy, safe and requires
no cost or specific equipment. However, in resource limited countries like Ethiopia, the figure
appears to be much less. Therefore, Breast self-examination should be encouraged as early
detection means of breast cancer in order to avert the related morbidities and mortalities.
Objective: To assess the practice of Breast self-examination and its associated factors among
women seeking care in public health centers of Addis Ababa.
Method: An institution based cross-sectional study design on sample size of 422 was used to
collect data from March 01-30, 2016. A simple random sampling technique was employed for
the selection of Health centers and then informants were selected by using systematic random
sampling method. Epi data version 3.5 and SPSS version 22 was used for data entry and analysis
respectively. Moreover, Logistic regression analysis was fitted and odds ratios with 95%
Confidence intervals were computed and p values less than 0.05 were considered significant.
Result: There were 403 respondents, which gives a 95.5% response rate from the expected 422.
Below one fourth 18.6% of the respondents regularly practiced BSE. The most common reason
for not practicing BSE was “I don’t have breast problem” 92(36.9%). Regarding the questions
designed to assess BSE knowledge of the respondents, 239(59.3%) of the participants were
found knowledgeable. Two hundred fourty four (60.5%) of the women were found to
have good attitude towards BSE. The odds of women to practice BSE who are
cohabiting with their partner were 0.4 times lower than those who are not. On the
other hand the likelihood of practicing BSE is 3 times higher among women who
have good attitude towards BSE [AOR=3.1 (0.12, 0.78)]. There was also significant
association between good practicing of BSE and ever being examined by a health
professional [AOR=5.22(2.62, 10.41)] and having ever discussed the importance with
other people [AOR=2.95(1.43,6.08)].
Conclusion: this study revealed low level of BSE practice. In order to improve women’s health
seeking behavior and screening practice, it is vital to initiate interventions that seek to provide
health education, and to encourage preventive practice.
Keywords: breast self-examination, breast cancer, knowledge, perception, screening.
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Keywords
Breast self-examination,, Breast Cancer, Knowledge, Perception, Screening