AWARENESS OF BREAST CANCER AND PERCEIVED PRACTICE OF BREAST SELF EXAMINATION AMONG SELECTED UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT IN JOSEPH AYO BABALOLA UNIVERSITY
Abstract
Breast cancer is the commonest form of cancer among women across the world. If breast changes are detected early and treatment commenced early enough, the survival rate of breast cancer will be increased. The purpose of this study was to investigate the awareness of breast cancer and the perceived practice of Breast Self-Examination (BSE) among selected female undergraduate students of Joseph ayo babalola University.
The research design for the study was descriptive survey. Female hostel 4 in Joseph ayo babalola university University was selected for the study. Proportional sampling method was used to obtain two hundred and sixty-two (262) participants across all levels of study. The age range of the respondents was between 19 to 25 years old. A validated questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0. Data derived from the questionnaire were analyzed descriptively using frequencies and percentages. Chi Square and Spearman’s Rank analysis were used to test for relationships between level of study, breast cancer awareness and practice of BSE.
The study revealed the awareness of breast cancer and BSE among the respondents to be 94.9%. Although 80.2% had practiced BSE before, majority had inadequate practice of BSE. A significant relationship was observed between breast cancer awareness and BSE practice (P=0.014), but there was no significant relationship between level of study and practice of BSE (P=0.256).
Findings revealed high level of awareness of breast cancer but low prevalence rate of BSE practice among the respondents. Findings also implied that although BSE practice did not increase with higher level of study, higher level of awareness increases practice of BSE.
Based on these findings, it was recommended that the importance of BSE in early detection of breast cancer should be stressed with emphasis on regular and proper practice of BSE.
Key words: Awareness, Breast Cancer, Practice, Breast Self-Examination, Female, Undergraduate Students.
Word Count: 295
Full-Text Access Notice
In accordance with the NERD Policy on promoting peer-reviewed publication, public access to the full text of a project, thesis or dissertation is restricted for three years, allowing the author and supervisors sufficient time to pursue peer-reviewed publication.
During this period, researchers with legitimate academic or research purposes may request authorisation directly from the author to enable NERD to release the indexed full texts of the work using the form below.