Awareness, Knowledge and Practice of Breast Self-Examination Among Saudi Women

Objectives: To assess knowledge and practice regarding breast self-examination (BSE) among Saudi women in Abha City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Subjects and Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out to include 400 Saudi women aged over 18 years, among the attendants of Al-Manhal primary health care center. A study questionnaire was developed for data collection that included personal data, questions to assess awareness, knowledge and practice regarding BSE. Results: More than half of participants (60.4%) were in the age group 18-30 years, 51.8% were married, while 50% were employed and 64.2% had university education. Only 67.5% of participants were aware of BSE. Most of those who claimed to be aware of BSE responded correctly to the items about the objectives of BSE, importance of standing in front of a mirror while conducting BSE and frequency of performing BSE (91.5%, 80.4% and 72.2%, respectively). Knowledge regarding the importance of exploring nipples for discharge and looking for changes in breast skin were much less (37.8% and 27.4%, respectively). The main sources of information were the internet and mass media (25.2% and 23%, respectively). School/University curricula were the main source of information for 15.2% of participants. Physicians and health education materials were the main sources of information for 13.3% and 12.2% of participants respectively. Approximately one-third of participants practiced BSE (37.8%). The main reasons for not-practicing BSE included being not informed about how to practice BSE (59.8%), fear to discover the presence of a serious disease (26.9%), while 13.3% were not fully convinced regarding the importance of BSE. Awareness of the youngest participants (<30 years) was highest (76%), while that of the oldest participants ( >_50 years) was least (13.5%). The majority of non-married participants were aware of BSE (82.9%) compared with 53.1% of married participants. Employed participants were significantly more aware than non-employed participants (81% vs. 54%, respectively, p<0.001). Illiterate participants were significantly less aware regarding BSE, compared with those who had school or university levels of education (18.2% versus 62.5% and 79.8%, respectively, p<0.001). Practice of BSE by the youngest participants (<30 years) was highest (47.1%), while that of the oldest participants ( >_50 years) was least (13.5%). NonCorrespondence to: Dr. Inasse I. Gaballah, The Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, Assiut University. married participants practiced BSE significantly more than married participants (52.3% vs. 24.2%, p<0.001). Employed participants practiced BSE significantly more than nonemployed participants (52.5% vs. 23%, respectively, p<0.001). All illiterate participants did not practice BSE at all, while those who had university levels of education practiced BSE significantly more than those who had school level of education (50.6% versus 23.9%, respectively, p<0.001). Conclusions: Awareness, knowledge and practice of BSE are low among Saudi women in Abha City. Several risk factors are associated with low awareness toward BSE and its practice, i.e., older age, being married, unemployment and low educational levels. Recommendations: To plan and implement national health education programs to raise the awareness of the public toward BSE. Primary health care physicians should participate fully in informing their patients on the importance of prevention and early detection of BC, and to educate them on how to perform BSE.