Awareness of breast cancer among adolescent girls in Colombo, Sri Lanka: a school based study

Abstract

BackgroundBreast cancer is the commonest cancer in women worldwide. Although programmes promoting breast cancer awareness are being carried out throughout Sri Lanka, few have targeted school students. We conducted this study to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding breast cancer with reference to screening, services available, breast self-examination, and sources of information, among adolescent schoolgirls in the Colombo District of Sri Lanka.MethodsThe knowledge, attitudes and practices related to breast cancer were assessed among 859 adolescent girls in schools within the Colombo District, using a self-administered questionnaire. Classes and students were selected using multi-stage stratified cluster sampling.ResultsOf the total sample, approximately 60% of respondents identified ‘history of breast lump’, ‘family history of breast cancer’ & ‘exposure to irradiation’ as risk factors for breast cancer. Although most were aware that the presence of a breast lump was an important warning sign, awareness of other warning signs was poor. Only 35.6% identified mammogram as an effective screening method. One third of the sample maintained that they are unaware of symptoms, diagnostics and treatment of breast cancer. Of those who were aware, 90.6% named surgery as a treatment option for breast cancer, 79.4% were unaware that chemotherapy is used. Of the total sample, 17.1% knew how to perform breast self-examination, and only 9.4% were aware of currently available breast cancer screening services. Knowledge was significantly better among students who had a relative with breast cancer.ConclusionsThere were significant deficiencies in knowledge, attitudes and practices on breast cancer in the study population. In particular, knowledge on breast self examination was poor. There is a need for awareness programs aimed specifically at this important target group.

Impact of a Breast Health Awareness Activity on the Knowledge Level of the Participants and its Association with Socio-Demographic Features

“…The knowledge of breast cancer symptoms and practice of breast self examination is inadequate among women living in the developing countries (Ahmed et al, 2006;Karayurt et al, 2008;Kumar et al, 2009;Khokher et al, 2012;Radi 2013;Ranasinghe et al, 2013). However there is evidence of significant improvement with the educational and awareness activities (Gupta et al, 2009).…”

“…2009; Khokher et al, 2012;Radi 2013;Ranasinghe et al, 2013). There are few articles which report the impact of educational activities on the knowledge and practice of breast self examination (Yavari P and Pourhoseingholi MA., 2007;Gupta et al, 2009;Al-Shammari et al, 2012) and there is a report which assesses the impact of an awareness program on the knowledge level of women by comparing the population exposed to this program with the population not exposed to this program (Mena et al, 2013).…”

Development of a Breast Cancer Awareness Scale for Thai Women: Moving towards a Validated Measure

“…Some studies conducted pilot testing and their validation process only involved content validity;they do not go on to fully validate their instruments (Norlaili et al, 2013;Ranasinghe et al, 2013;Liu et al, 2014a;Sathian et al, 2014). One study, conducted by Cancer Research UK, King's College London and University College London, developed and did attempt to fully validate their instrument, the Breast CAM.…”

Breast cancer among young girls: a KAP study conducted in Lahore

“…1 It is the second most frequently occurring malignant tumor. 2 According to World Health Organization (WHO) globally 1.4 million women are diagnosed with breast cancer. According to world cancer research fund internationally 1.7 million cases were diagnosed in 2012 worldwide.…”

“…3 Welleducated women have greater knowledge and understanding as compared to less educated women. 2 Three kinds of screening methods are present: breast selfexamination (BSE), clinical breast examination (CBE), and mammography. BSE is a simple procedure unlike CBE and mammography which needs doctor's visit, it is done by women at their homes by their own.…”