The Relationship between Knowledge and Practice in Clinical Breast Examination among Women in Baghdad, Iraq

Abstract

Aim: This study aims to determine both the level  of knowledge, attitude, and practice  in clinical breast examination in women and the relationship between knowledge and practice.Data collection was performed within a three-month period starting from February 2019 on.  Subjects and Method: A cross-sectional analytical study included 657 non-randomly selected women visiting primary health care centers in Baghdad city with an average of age between (20-59) years old.  Results: Only 51.8% ever heard of clinical breast examination. The mean knowledge score for clinical breast examination was (51.2±44). Only 5.5% of women performed regular clinical breast examinations. Participants who adequately practice clinical breast examination had a statistically significance higher mean score of  knowledge than those without adequate clinical breast examination (100 vs 44.2), (P<0.001). Conclusion: The study has concluded that practices of clinical breast examination were inadequate in the majority of participants and need to be improved by educational programs.