Breast Cancer Awareness and Practice of Self-Breast Examination among Biochemistry Students in Federal University Birnin Kebbi Nigeria

Abstract

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to assess the breast cancer awareness and practice of self-breast examination amongst female biochemistry students and to find out the statistically significant association between their level of practice regarding self-breast examination with their selected sociodemographic variables. Materials and Methods: The research design used for this study was a descriptive survey, purposive sampling technique was used to select 60 Biochemistry Students at Federal University Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria. This research was conducted within ten months (from January 2023 to October 2023). Data were collected using structures related to breast cancer awareness and the practice of self-breast examination. The collected data were tabulated in Excel and transported to IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 20.0. Results: The results showed that the majority of 38 (63.3%) had moderate, 17 (28.3%) had adequate and only 5 (8.3%) had an inadequate level of awareness regarding breast cancer. Therefore, the H0:1 hypothesis was rejected, whereas the H1:1 hypothesis was accepted. The results revealed that, out of 60 (100%) respondents, all of them had a positive attitude toward self-breast examination. Hence, the H0:2 hypothesis was rejected, whereas the H1:2 hypothesis was accepted. The results showed that there was a statistically significant association between their levels of awareness regarding breast cancer with their selected sociodemographic variables such as area of residence (urban) P < 0.001. Hence, the H0:3 hypothesis was rejected, whereas the H1:3 hypothesis was accepted. Conclusion: There was a statistically significant association between their levels of awareness regarding breast cancer with their selected sociodemographic variables such as area of residence (urban). The recommendation was given to conduct a similar study in a different setting using a large sample for generalisation of the findings.