KNOWLEDGE OF BREAST CANCER AND PRACTICE OF BREAST SELF EXAMINATION AMONG STUDENTS OF PAMO UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES

ABSTRACT Breast cancer is a major disease of public health importance worldwide af ecting females in both developing and developed countries. Breast cancer as a disease which imposes stigma, fear, discrimination and psychological disturbances among those af ected. In developing countries such as Nigeria, it is a disease with increasing morbidity, mortality and of great economic importance. This study aims to assess the knowledge of breast cancer and practice of Breast Self- Examination (BSE) among female students of PAMO University of Medical Sciences. This research delves into the critical exploration of the knowledge of breast cancer and breast self-examination. Breast self-examination is a useful tool used in determining breast cancer in its earliest form. A descriptive cross-sectional study was adopted to assess the knowledge of breast cancer and practices of BSE among female students of PAMO University of Medical Sciences. Using multistage sampling method, 386 female students were selected from specific faculties and their various departments. The survey instrument used was a semi-structured self-administered questionnaire which was used to collect information about the knowledge of breast cancer and practice of BSE. The data was summarized using descriptive statistics (with frequencies generated and presented in tables as well as bar charts) and analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) version 27. The study population comprised exclusively females, most of which fell within the 16- 24 age group (92%). Two faculties were selected for the study, Clinical sciences which listed only one department, Medicine and Surgery (71%), and Allied Health Sciences (29%), which listed two departments, Nursing (21.2%) and Medical Laboratory Sciences (7.8%). Levels of study ranged from 100 – 600, consecutive percentages of which were 28.2%(100), 18.6%(200), 18.1%(300), 15.8%(400), 15.5%(500), 3.4%(600). Most of the population were single (99.2%) and professed Christianity (98.7%). The findings showed a high knowledge of breast cancer as well as high knowledge of breast self-examination. The percentage of students with good knowledge of breast cancer was 72.0%. We also observed that a proportion less than half of the students(44.6%) practiced breast self-examination. KEY WORDS: Breast cancer, knowledge, females, University, Nigeria