Knowledge, practice and associated factors of breast self-examination among female university students of Bangladesh

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer and leading cause of death worldwide. Breast self-examination (BSE) is a cost-effective tool for self-assessment and for potential early detection of breast cancer in low-resource settings. This study aimed to explore knowledge, practice and associ...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: A.S.M. Ishtiak, Nawshin Ahmed, Foyjunnesa Gaffar, Md. Abdullah Saeed Khan, Ferdousi Yasmeen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2022-11-01
Series:Heliyon
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844022030687
_version_ 1828098010775552000
author A.S.M. Ishtiak
Nawshin Ahmed
Foyjunnesa Gaffar
Md. Abdullah Saeed Khan
Ferdousi Yasmeen
author_facet A.S.M. Ishtiak
Nawshin Ahmed
Foyjunnesa Gaffar
Md. Abdullah Saeed Khan
Ferdousi Yasmeen
author_sort A.S.M. Ishtiak
collection DOAJ
description Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer and leading cause of death worldwide. Breast self-examination (BSE) is a cost-effective tool for self-assessment and for potential early detection of breast cancer in low-resource settings. This study aimed to explore knowledge, practice and associated factors of BSE among female university students of Bangladesh. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 conveniently selected female students aged ≥18 years from four universities. A pre-tested semi-structured self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression and simple and multiple linear regression analysis was used to assess determinants of knowledge and practice regarding BSE. Results: A total of 400 students participated from two private and two public universities (100 from each university). The average age of the participants was 20.89 ± 1.72 years (±SD). Of all, 60.5% had presence of knowledge (i.e., heard) about BSE. The average knowledge score was 7.41 ± 3.27 (in a scale of 0–15). Among those who had knowledge about BSE only 10.7% participants practiced it monthly. Being in public university (Adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR]: 3.42, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.73–6.74) and years of education (aOR: 1.42, 95%CI: 1.02–1.97) were significant determinant of presence of knowledge regarding BSE. Moreover, studying in public university (β: 0.99, 95%CI 0.16–1.82) and education years passed (β: 0.51; 95%CI: 0.18–0.85) were associated with a higher knowledge score. Practice of BSE was negatively associated with students’ rural living prior to admission (aOR: 0.26, 95%CI: 0.08–0.79), and positively associated with level of knowledge regarding BSE (aOR: 1.48; 95%CI 0.08–0.79). Conclusion: This study revealed a general lack of knowledge and practice regarding BSE among female university students. As knowledge and practice of BSE would increase breast cancer awareness and screening acceptance, authorities should address the issue with properly planned strategies.
first_indexed 2024-04-11T07:55:44Z
format Article
id doaj.art-5f0d86a4d4ba4ea9a5231ad223082ac1
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2405-8440
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-11T07:55:44Z
publishDate 2022-11-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Heliyon
spelling doaj.art-5f0d86a4d4ba4ea9a5231ad223082ac12022-12-22T04:35:57ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402022-11-01811e11780Knowledge, practice and associated factors of breast self-examination among female university students of BangladeshA.S.M. Ishtiak0Nawshin Ahmed1Foyjunnesa Gaffar2Md. Abdullah Saeed Khan3Ferdousi Yasmeen4National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dhaka, BangladeshNorth South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Corresponding author.Pioneer Dental College, Dhaka, BangladeshInfectious Disease Hospital, Dhaka, BangladeshNational Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dhaka, BangladeshBackground: Breast cancer is the most common cancer and leading cause of death worldwide. Breast self-examination (BSE) is a cost-effective tool for self-assessment and for potential early detection of breast cancer in low-resource settings. This study aimed to explore knowledge, practice and associated factors of BSE among female university students of Bangladesh. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 conveniently selected female students aged ≥18 years from four universities. A pre-tested semi-structured self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression and simple and multiple linear regression analysis was used to assess determinants of knowledge and practice regarding BSE. Results: A total of 400 students participated from two private and two public universities (100 from each university). The average age of the participants was 20.89 ± 1.72 years (±SD). Of all, 60.5% had presence of knowledge (i.e., heard) about BSE. The average knowledge score was 7.41 ± 3.27 (in a scale of 0–15). Among those who had knowledge about BSE only 10.7% participants practiced it monthly. Being in public university (Adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR]: 3.42, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.73–6.74) and years of education (aOR: 1.42, 95%CI: 1.02–1.97) were significant determinant of presence of knowledge regarding BSE. Moreover, studying in public university (β: 0.99, 95%CI 0.16–1.82) and education years passed (β: 0.51; 95%CI: 0.18–0.85) were associated with a higher knowledge score. Practice of BSE was negatively associated with students’ rural living prior to admission (aOR: 0.26, 95%CI: 0.08–0.79), and positively associated with level of knowledge regarding BSE (aOR: 1.48; 95%CI 0.08–0.79). Conclusion: This study revealed a general lack of knowledge and practice regarding BSE among female university students. As knowledge and practice of BSE would increase breast cancer awareness and screening acceptance, authorities should address the issue with properly planned strategies.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844022030687Breast self-examinationKnowledgePracticeBreast cancer
spellingShingle A.S.M. Ishtiak
Nawshin Ahmed
Foyjunnesa Gaffar
Md. Abdullah Saeed Khan
Ferdousi Yasmeen
Knowledge, practice and associated factors of breast self-examination among female university students of Bangladesh
Heliyon
Breast self-examination
Knowledge
Practice
Breast cancer
title Knowledge, practice and associated factors of breast self-examination among female university students of Bangladesh
title_full Knowledge, practice and associated factors of breast self-examination among female university students of Bangladesh
title_fullStr Knowledge, practice and associated factors of breast self-examination among female university students of Bangladesh
title_full_unstemmed Knowledge, practice and associated factors of breast self-examination among female university students of Bangladesh
title_short Knowledge, practice and associated factors of breast self-examination among female university students of Bangladesh
title_sort knowledge practice and associated factors of breast self examination among female university students of bangladesh
topic Breast self-examination
Knowledge
Practice
Breast cancer
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844022030687
work_keys_str_mv AT asmishtiak knowledgepracticeandassociatedfactorsofbreastselfexaminationamongfemaleuniversitystudentsofbangladesh
AT nawshinahmed knowledgepracticeandassociatedfactorsofbreastselfexaminationamongfemaleuniversitystudentsofbangladesh
AT foyjunnesagaffar knowledgepracticeandassociatedfactorsofbreastselfexaminationamongfemaleuniversitystudentsofbangladesh
AT mdabdullahsaeedkhan knowledgepracticeandassociatedfactorsofbreastselfexaminationamongfemaleuniversitystudentsofbangladesh
AT ferdousiyasmeen knowledgepracticeandassociatedfactorsofbreastselfexaminationamongfemaleuniversitystudentsofbangladesh