Breast self-examination as a method of early detection of breast cancer: knowledge and practice among antenatal clinic attendees in south eastern Nigeria

ABSTRACT

To determine antenatal women's knowledge and practice of breast self-examination as a method of early detection of breast cancer. It is a descriptive study involving 100 consecutive and consenting patients at the antenatal clinic of Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba, over the period 1[St] June, 2007 to 15 [Th] June, 2007. Using a structured questionnaire, the respondents' socio-demographic data were obtained as well as their knowledge of breast cancer, breast self-examination for early detection of breast cancer and the practice of breast self-examination. The majority [98%] of the women were married. Whilst 78% of the respondents practiced breast self-examination regularly, only 34% of them knew the reason for practising breast self-examination. This means that the breast self-examination practiced was mostly ineffective. Only 3% of the respondents knew about a mammogram whilst none had had a mammogram done in the past. The vast majority [97%] of the respondents had heard of cancer of the breast. Breast self-examination was positively associated with educational level attained. The level of practice of breast self-examination is very low in our community. Public health programmes that teach women to regularly examine their breast and to seek early treatment for any detected lesions should be publicized through the mass media, seminars, conferences, workshops at the grassroots level and health education at health facilities