KNOWLEDGE ATTITUDE AND PRACTICES AMONG GENERAL FEMALE POPULATION OF KARACHI REGARDING BREAST CANCER RISK FACTORS, SCREENING AND BREAST SELF- EXAMINATION.

Abstract

ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Pakistan has high incidence of breast cancer in the region and breast cancer
is more aggressive and is recognized to metastasize at an earlier age with presentation at late stage
due to affordability, lack of awareness and poor attitude towards seeking medical care. This study
targets general population of adult females to assess their knowledge, attitude and practices
regarding breast cancer risk factors, screening modalities and Breast self- examination.
OBJECTIVES: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practices among general female population
of Karachi regarding breast cancer risk factors, screening and breast self- examination.
METHOD: A Cross-Sectional Survey was conducted on a sample size of 400 females through
convenience sampling. Data was collected in both Urdu and English languages via self- structured
questionnaire in public places of Karachi. Both interview and self-administration was employed
for data collection procedure. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20. All qualitative variables
were presented as frequency and percentage while all quantitative variables like age were
presented as mean and standard deviation. Chi square was used as a test of association and p-value
<0.05 was taken as significant. RESULTS: A total of n=400 females with mean age of 25.4 +/-
1.7 years were included in the study. Majority of the respondents were Muslim females, and
graduates. n=382 (95.5%) women had heard of breast cancer. The source of information regarding
breast cancer was mostly newspapers and magazines etc. majority of women recognized lump in
breast as a sign of cancer n=308 (77%) and n=187 (46.8%) recognized biopsy as a method of
diagnosis. 31% women admitted they did not know how often clinical breast examination should
be done once women turn forty years old. And 21% had gone through a clinical breast examination
atleast once. Total n=252 (63%) females has heard of mammography. It was found that 75% of
the participants never perform breast self- examination (BSE). Married women are more likely to
Practice breast self-examination than single women. CONCLUSION: The knowledge regarding
breast cancer still remains limited. Newspapers and other media are recognized as powerful tools
to spread knowledge regarding the disease. Frequency of performing Breast self -examination is
still very low and its importance must be emphasized. Also, an important reason for not performing
BSE does not know how to perform it. Thus, better awareness of this procedure must be created
among female.