Assessment Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice of Breast Cancer Screening Among Female Undergraduate Students in Enugu State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

This study was aimed at assessing the knowledge, attitude and practice of breast cancer screening among undergraduate female students in Enugu State, Nigeria. A total of 280 female undergraduates accepted to be involed in the study, majority of who were between 20-24 years. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from respondents. The result showed that the majority of the respondents (96.8%) had high knowledge of breast cancer screening due to the fact that they are being taught as students. Furthermore, women who had received information from physicians and medical books including; undergraduate female students had greater knowledge (17.5%) of breast cancer and detection because they come in contact with health professionals for different diseases other than breast problems also. Majority of the respondents (99.7%) had heard of breast cancer. 43.6% knew that the cause of breast cancer is known. 51.4% knew that breast cancer could be inherited and greater percentage of the respondents (80.0%) agreed that one of the best ways of detection is screening. In conclusion, the study showed that majority of the female undergraduates had knowledge of breast cancer. Screening and performed breast self examination but not correctly. It is recommended that breast cancer screening and breast self examination awareness campaign is therfore necessary to improve early breast detection and breast health practices be improved throught appropriate health education programme targeted at young women to inculcate the practice of screening among them.

Keywords: Breast cancer examination, knowledge; prevalence; checkup, pratice of breast cancer and cancer screening