Breast Self-examination Practice and Associated Factors Among Women of Reproductive Age in Adama Town, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

Breast Self-Examination is the process where by a woman examines her own breasts by seeing and feeling with fingers to detect breast lump or swelling. More than 90% cases of breast cancer are detected by women themselves. Poor practice of breast self-examination is usually associated with patient delay. The five-year survival rate for a localized breast cancer is 84%. Community based breast self-examination practice is low in the country specifically in the present study area. Thus this study aimed to assess breast self-examination practice and associated factors among women of reproductive age in Adama Town, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia in 2017EC. This Community based- cross sectional quantitative study was conducted using a random sample and multistage sampling procedure by administering pretested structured questionnaire to the population of 765 reproductive age women. The collected data were cleaned, coded and entered into Epi-Info version 7 and exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Descriptive statistics, bivariate and multivariable logistic regression were computed. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to assess the association among study variables. This study indicated that the overall prevalence of breast self- examination practice was 51.4% with 95% CI (48.1, 55.2). Factors associated with breast self-examination practice were above secondary education (AOR, 6.38; 95% CI: 2.87, 14.16), secondary education (AOR, 5.03; 95% CI: 2.24, 11.30), knowing someone suffering from breast cancer (AOR, 1.98, 95% CI: 1.27, 3.09), and fear of breast cancer from family history (AOR, 12.38, 95% CI: 6.36, 24.10) were having statically significant and positive association with breast self-examination practice. This study revealed that breast self-examination practice was high. Oromia Regional Health Bureau, Adama Town Health Office, women’s and children’s affair offices and other stake holders should disseminate teaching materials that address the benefit of breast self-examination practice. Health professionals should teach the community about the advantage of breast self-examination practice through mass media, awareness raising campaigns, and celebration of breast cancer day.