EVALUATION OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND AWARENESS OF BREAST CANCER AMONG SOUTH INDIAN WOMEN POPULATION

Allamsetty Santoshini*, Ramireddy Prathyusha and Sajja Ravindra Babu

ABSTRACT

Background: Breast cancer is the most prevailing cancer of women (23% of all cancers), ranking second overall when both sexes are considered together. Objectives: The aim of the study is to assess the breast cancer knowledge, attitude, and awareness and factors associated with that of breast self examination (BSE) and mammography among south Indian women population. Methods: This study is a cross sectional survey of household women, college students and working female faculty. Data was collected from 350 females with 96.4% response rate. All the participants were asked to fill a simple questionnaire to investigate their knowledge about breast cancer, Breast self examination and mammography. Results: The results of the study showed that 48.2% of the participants declared that they had information about breast cancer and was mainly through health professionals (79.2%), friends/neighbours (60%), media and others (55%). Of the participants, 7.71% reported positive family history of breast cancer, 59.7% did not know how to practice Breast self examination, and 22% knew the procedure but never applied it. Moreover, 64.2% has no breast examination by health professionals and 48.2% did not know what the mammography technique is. The factors that may have an satisfactory level of knowledge were, women older than 35 years, married, with a history of child death and use of contraceptive pills. Conclusion: The study survey states that insufficient knowledge of females about breast cancer, mammography and deficit knowledge on the practice of Breast self examination.

Keywords: Breast Cancer, Breast Self Examination, Mammography.