Breast self-examination practice and associated factors among women of reproductive age in southeast Ethiopia

Abstract

Regular breast self-examination is the most cost-effective method for early detection of breast cancer, especially in resource-limited countries. However, breast self-examination practice was low among reproductive-age women.ObjectiveThis study aims to evaluate breast self-examination practice and associated factors among women of reproductive age in southeast Ethiopia.MethodsA convergent parallel mixed-methods study design was conducted on 836 women of reproductive age. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used for the quantitative part of the study and supplemented by focus group discussions. A database was created using Epi-info version 3.5.3, and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regressions were done to examine the effect of explanatory variables. Variables with p-value <0.05 during multivariable logistic regressions were considered as significantly associated with the dependent variable. Thematic data analysis was carried out for the qualitative study.ResultOut of 836 total participants, only 20.7% had ever heard about breast self-examination practice. Also, only 13.2% of the mothers had practiced breast self-examinations. Even though the majority of the participants during focused group discussions had knowledge about breast cancer screening, most of them stated that breast self-examination was not practiced among them. Maternal age, mother’s level of education, and previous history of breast examination by health professionals were significant predictors of breast self-examination practices.ConclusionThis study reported a low prevalence of breast self-examination practice. Therefore, enhancing women’s education and encouraging breast examination by health professionals are essential to increase the proportion of women performing breast self-examination.

Knowledge and Practice of Breast Self-Examination Among Women of Reproductive Age Attending Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital, Kenya

“…Interestingly, respondents with poor BSE knowledge level were more likely to have good BSE practice. These findings were different from those of a study on practice and associated factors among women of reproductive age in southeast Ethiopia by Hussen. et al, (2023) where majority of the respondents had knowledge about BSE, but most of them stated that they never practiced it.…”

Intention to Undergo Clinical Breast Examination and Its Associated Factors among Women Attending Rural Primary Healthcare Facilities in South Central Ethiopia

“…Among the 420 study participants, 263 (62.6%) said that breast cancer is noncommunicable. This finding is lower than the study conducted among women in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (77.1%) [6] and higher than the study conducted among women of reproductive age in Bale Zone, Southeast Ethiopia (12.4%) [17]. This variation would be due to urban-rural variation, where urban residents are expected to have a better knowledge than rural residents; and study time difference, where knowledge level is expected to show relative increment over time.…”

“…Majority of this study participants, 298 (71%), mentioned pain in the breast as a breast cancer sign and symptom. Likewise, in similar studies conducted in Addis Ababa [6] and in Bale Zone, Ethiopia [17], pain in the breast was mentioned by 50.6% and 20.5% of the respondents, respectively. Absence of breast-feeding and obesity were recognized as major risk factors for developing breast cancer by 288 (68.6%) and 269 (64%) of participants, respectively.…”

“…In this study, only 185 (44%) of the respondents put CBE as breast cancer prevention method. In contrary, majority (78.6%) of participants in a study conducted in Bale Zone, Southeast Ethiopia [17] put CBE as a most breast cancer prevention method they know. This informs that priorities should be given to train health professionals at all levels of the health system to promote and offer CBE.…”

“…Thereafter, a structured questionnaire was prepared according to Ajzen’s TPB manual [12]. Other sections of the questionnaire were adapted from previously published studies [6, 17] on breast cancer awareness and CBE practice studies in Ethiopia, with minor changes to fit the objectives of this study and the local context.…”