Practice of Breast Self-Examination and Knowledge of Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening

Olabode Ebenezer Omotoso, Ghadier Matariek, Elizabeth F. Omotoso, Amira Matareek, Ghada M. Abdul-Rafee, Sucheta Malakar, Nabanita Chutia

Abstract


The burden of breast and cervical cancer is increasing exponentially, especially among women in low- and mid-income countries. Early detection, hinged on screening uptake is a key to higher survival rate and managing cancer outcome. The present study assessed Nigerians and Egyptians’ knowledge of breast self-examination (BSE) and breast and cervical cancer screening. A cross-sectional questionnaire was utilized to obtain 1,006 respondents via a convenient sampling method. The mean age of respondents was 30.43 ± 6.69. About one-third of participants had good knowledge (> 66%) of breast cancer screening (42%), cervical cancer screening (44%) and BSE practice (36%). Age range (26–40 years), educational level (tertiary), and marital status were demographic data that influenced knowledge level. The screening uptake among the studied population is very poor as only (11%) had ever been screened and only (2.2%) ever vaccinated. The major reasons for poor screening uptake were “no awareness of where to be screened” and “no symptoms”. Assessing the knowledge and uptake level of African women through studies like this is crucial in identifying the loopholes in the fight against cancer. More efforts are required for promoting the utilization of cancer screening services, HPV vaccination, and BSE practice among African women.

 

Doi: 10.28991/SciMedJ-2021-0303-3

Full Text: PDF


Keywords


Breast Self-examination; Cancer Screening; Early Detection; African Women; Knowledge.

References


Ewaid, S. H., Shanjar, A. M., & Mahdi, R. H. (2018). Knowledge and practice of breast self-examination among sample of women in Shatra/Dhi-Qar/Iraq. Alexandria Journal of Medicine, 54(4), 315–317. doi:10.1016/j.ajme.2017.12.002.

Harsha Kumar, H., & Tanya, S. (2014). A study on knowledge and screening for cervical cancer among women in Mangalore city. Annals of Medical and Health Sciences Research, 4(5), 751-756. doi:10.4103/2141-9248.141547.

Global Cancer Observatory. Available online: https://gco.iarc.fr/ (accessed on January 2021).

Heena, H., Durrani, S., AlFayyad, I., Riaz, M., Tabasim, R., Parvez, G., & Abu-Shaheen, A. (2019). Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices towards Cervical Cancer and Screening amongst Female Healthcare Professionals: A Cross-Sectional Study. Journal of Oncology, 1–9. doi:10.1155/2019/5423130.

Ajayi, M. P., Amoo, E. O., Olawande, T. I., Iruonagbe, T. C., & Adekeye, O. A. (2019). Awareness of Breast and Cervical Cancer among Women in the Informal Sector in Nigeria. Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences, 7(14), 2371–2376. doi:10.3889/oamjms.2019.259.

Arulogun, O. S., & Maxwell, O. O. (2012). Perception and utilization of cervical cancer screening services among female nurses in University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. Pan African Medical Journal, 11(1), 1-8.

Ezem, B. (2007). Awareness and uptake of cervical cancer screening in Owerri, South-Eastern Nigeria. Annals of African Medicine, 6(3), 94-98. doi:10.4103/1596-3519.55727.

Ndikom, C. M., & Ofi, B. A. (2012). Awareness, perception and factors affecting utilization of cervical cancer screening services among women in Ibadan, Nigeria: a qualitative study. Reproductive Health, 9(1), 1-8. doi:10.1186/1742-4755-9-11.

Yakout, S. M., Moawed, S. & Gemeay, E. M. (2016). Cervical Cancer and Screening Test (PAP Test): Knowledge and Beliefs of Egyptian Women. American Journal of Nursing Science, 5(5), 175–184. doi:10.11648/j.ajns.20160505.12.

Ashareef, B., Yaseen, W., Jawa, W., Barnawe, Y., Alshehri, W., Alqethami, H., … Alqumaili, O. (2020). Breast Cancer Awareness among Female School Teachers in Saudi Arabia: A Population Based Survey. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 21(2), 337–342. doi:10.31557/apjcp.2020.21.2.337.

Sabgul, A. A., Qattan, A. M. N., Hashmi, R., & Al-Hanawi, M. K. (2021). Husbands’ Knowledge of Breast Cancer and Their Wives’ Attitudes and Practices Related to Breast Cancer Screening in Saudi Arabia: Cross-sectional Online Survey. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 23(2), e25404. doi:10.2196/25404.

Dadzi, R., & Adam, A. (2019). Assessment of knowledge and practice of breast self-examination among reproductive age women in Akatsi South district of Volta region of Ghana. PLOS ONE, 14(12), e0226925. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0226925.

Azemfac, K., Christie, S. A., Carvalho, M. M., Nana, T., Fonje, A. N., Halle-Ekane, G., … Juillard, C. (2019). A Community-Based Assessment of Knowledge and Practice of Breast Self-Examination and Prevalence of Breast Disease in Southwest Cameroon. Journal of Cancer Epidemiology, 1–10. doi:10.1155/2019/2928901.

Gupta, R., Gupta, S., Mehrotra, R., & Sodhani, P. (2019). Risk factors of breast cancer and breast self-examination in early detection: systematic review of awareness among Indian women in community and health care professionals. Journal of Public Health. doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdy228.

Yaghmour, K. A., Alamri, S. J., Alfaqeh, R. H., Alnashri, L. M., Alamri, B. J., & Makin, M. A. (2020). Awareness and Knowledge of Breast Cancer Screening Methods among Women in Al-Qunfudah, Saudi Arabia. Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research, 32(17), 81–95. doi:10.9734/jammr/2020/v32i1730648.

Olubodun, T., Odukoya, O. O., & Balogun, M. R. (2019). Knowledge, attitude and practice of cervical cancer prevention, among women residing in an urban slum in Lagos, South West, Nigeria. Pan African Medical Journal, 32. doi:10.11604/pamj.2019.32.130.14432.

Tekle, T., Wolka, E., Nega, B., Kumma, W. P., & Koyira, M. M. (2020).

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice towards Cervical Cancer Screening Among Women and Associated Factors in Hospitals of Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia

. Cancer Management and Research, 12, 993-1005. doi:10.2147/cmar.s240364.

Mengesha, A., Messele, A., & Beletew, B. (2020). Knowledge and attitude towards cervical cancer among reproductive age group women in Gondar town, North West Ethiopia. BMC Public Health, 20(1), 1-10. doi:10.1186/s12889-020-8229-4.

Yahya, A., & Mande, A. (2019). Awareness and knowledge of cervical cancer and its screening methods among women attending primary healthcare centers in Zaria, North-Western, Nigeria. Tropical Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 36(2), 271. doi:10.4103/tjog.tjog_26_19.

“OpenEpi Menu,” 2020. Available online: https://www.openepi.com/Menu/OE_Menu.htm (accessed on November 2020).

Africa Internet Users, Population and Facebook Statistics. Available online: https://www.internetworldstats.com/stats1.htm (accessed on November 2020).

World Health Organization, Cervical cancer. Available online: https://www.who.int/health-topics/cervical-cancer#tab=tab_1 (accessed on November 2020).


Full Text: PDF

DOI: 10.28991/SciMedJ-2021-0303-3

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2021 Olabode Ebenezer Omotoso, Ghadier Matariek, Elizabeth F. Omotoso, Amira Matareek, Ghada M Abdul-Rafee, Sucheta Malakar, Nabanita Chutia