Practice of breast self-examination and associated factors among female health professionals working in public hospitals of Harari regional state: Eastern Ethiopia multicenter study

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most frequent malignancy among women in both developed and developing countries. Early detection of breast cancer using breast self-examination plays a substantial role in reducing its morbidity and mortality. Despite improved availability of health information the morbidity and mortality caused by breast cancer among females were increasing from time to time and there is no information regarding the practice of breast self-examination in our study area.ObjectiveThis study was aimed at assessing breast self-examination practice and associated factors among female health professionals who were working in public hospitals of Harari Regional State in 2022.MethodsInstitutional-based quantitative cross-sectional study design was used to assess the practice of breast self-examination and associated factors among female health professionals who have been working in a public hospital in Harari regional state from March 25 to April 05, 2022. The study subjects were selected using a simple random sampling technique and data were collected by a self-administered and structured questionnaire. The collected data was edited, cleaned, coded, and entered into Epi-Data version 3.1 software and analyzed using the statistical package for social science software version 20. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis was carried out to see the association between independent and dependent variables. Variable with P-value less than 0.05 at final model were regarded as statistically significant.ResultAmong a total of 362 female health professionals, 171 (47.2%) respondents were ever practiced breast self-examination, 229(63.3%) had good knowledge of breast self-examination and 252(69.6%) had a favorable attitude toward breast self-examination. Work experience of ≥5 year (AOR = 2.51; 95% CI: 1.31–4.82), educational status of degree and above (AOR = 7.2; 95% CI: 3.82–10.58), good knowledge about breast self-examination (AOR = 3.4; 95% CI: 1.41–5.40) and favorable attitude toward breast self-examination (AOR = 3.1; 95% CI: 2.11–4.10) were significantly associated with breast self-examination practice.ConclusionThe finding of this study implies that the practice of breast self-examination among female health professionals is low. Work experience of ≥5 year, educational status of degree and above, having a good knowledge and favorable attitude toward breast self-examination were significantly associated with breast self-examination.

Risk Assessment Tool of Breast Cancer and Barriers against Breast Self-Examination among Nurses: An Educational Program

“…Tese fndings are supported by recent studies from Dechasa et al [39], Shallo and Boru [40], Dagne et al [41], and Elias et al [42], who reported that the practice of BSE was signifcantly associated with having good knowledge about BSE practice among the respondents. Tose with good knowledge about BSE practice are more likely to perform BSE practice as compared to those who have poor knowledge, which explain that knowledge about the impact of breast cancer and having information on diagnostic methods for breast cancer enable them to perform BSE.…”

Breast self-examination: knowledge, awareness, and practices among females of reproductive age group

“…17 Similar findings were reported by Dechasa et al in their study where they found 47.2% had ever performed BSE. 18 Only 23.36% of females performed BSE at the same time every month by using all needed techniques. As the current study was cross-sectional study, thus causal conclusions cannot be drawn.…”