Awareness regarding breast cancer a global health problem - a study amongst adult women in Karachi

Objective: To determine the level of knowledge regarding breast cancer amongst women and their practice of breast self-examination

Methods: A Knowledge, Attitude and Practice [KAP] study was conducted in the community of Gulshan Town, Karachi, during July 2013 to June 2014 through non-probability convenient sampling technique after taking written consent. The sample size of 560 was calculated by using World Health Organization [WHO] calculator. All women aged 20-40 years were included except those who had breast cancer and any type of swelling in the breast. Data was collected through semi-structured questionnaire. Data was entered and analysed on SPSS 16. For descriptive statistic mean +/- SD and frequencies were calculated

Results: A total of 559 women participated. Mean age of women was 30 +/- 1.5 years. About 84% females were married, 37% attained education in universities and 71% were housewives. Around 34% women thought that frequency of breast cancer was present in one out of every 9 women, while, 60% said breast cancer is a genetic disease. Those who said breast cancer is not accompanied by painful swelling were 61%. While 79% women said a swelling in the breast is not always breast cancer and 64% said that mastectomy is the only treatment of breast cancer. The women who said that use of contraceptives was closely associated with breast cancer were 69% women, 83% thought breast feeding decreases the risk of breast cancer while 45% women did not know what precautions to take against breast cancer. Only 40% women said consumption of fruits and vegetables decreases the incidence of breast cancer. Regarding awareness of the breast self-examination, 56.9% responded negatively

Conclusion: The study concluded that overall knowledge regarding breast cancer was low. The practice of breast self-examination in this cohort of subjects was only 40%. We recommend public awareness regarding the risk and screening modalities for breast cancer, and breast self-examination be emphasised using mass media

KAP study of exclusive breast feeding among the poor population - an institutional based study

Objective: To assess the practices and analyze the perceptions of mothers of poor population regarding exclusive breast feeding

Methodology: it is a descriptive institutional based study. Five-hundred women were enrolled at Maternal and Child Health [MCH] center, Civil Hospital Karachi [CHK] through systematic sampling during January to August 2007. Questionnaire was used for data collection and interview was conducted. Data were analyzed through SPSS version 11.5 continuous variables were categorized into different categories and proportions of all categorical variables were calculated

Results: It was observed that only 34% women were practicing exclusive breast feeding. Awareness regarding exclusive breast feeding was 88%. The use of prelacteal feeds like honey, ghutti was about 56.4% irrespective of age, education, area of residence and income level, due to various religious believes and family norms. Water was given by 65.5% mothers along with breast milk whereas 53.6% mothers try to improve their diet to enhance milk production. Difficulty in breast feeding was that the baby seems unsatisfied [36.8%]

Conclusion: Although breast feeding practices are not common in population studied but awareness regarding exclusive breast feeding was found in majority of women. The use of prelacteal feeds like honey, ghutti is very common. Most common problem in exclusive breast feeding was that the baby seems unsatisfied