Factors associated with breast self-examination among patients in Alexandria

ABSTRACT

Breast cancer is one of the major causes of death among women. The prognosis of the diagnosis depends upon early detection and treatment. Monthly breast self-examination is the simplest and safest method to uncover breast tumors in an early stage. In order to find out women knowledge and technique of performance of self breast-examination, 165 women having new breast cancer were selected randomly from the Surgical Ward of El-Miri Hospital and interviewed. From the study, it was found that a very small percent less than a tenth, of the sample mentioned the nurse as a teaching source, recognized the risk factors and were aware of the abnormal breast symptoms that should be reported while only a fifth of the sample knew when breast self-examination should be done. It was also found that older, illiterate women of the low socioeconomic level and nullipara were less likely to practice breast self-examination. The reasons reported for not practicing were ignorance of the importance and specific knowledge pertaining to breast self-examination, fear anxiety, forgetfulness, lack of confidence and uncomfortably in touching the breast