BREAST CANCER ASSESSMENT AND SELF- EXAMINATION PRACTICE OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS OF NILE UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate breast cancer assessment and self- examination practice of undergraduate students of Nile university of Nigeria. A descriptive survey using 424 self-administered questionnaire were administered randomly in proportion to students at all Levels in the departments. Data collected was presented using frequency distribution tables/percentages and multiple regression and analyzed accordingly. The findings showed that majority of students do not practice breast self-examination (BSE) and nearly half of the students practice it. The medical students were more likely to practice BSE than the non-medical students. Almost all of those that practice breast self-examination practice it at any time, a few practices it once a month while a very few practices it twice a month. 3% of the respondents perform BSE before their menstrual cycle, 1.2% perform it some days after, none of them perform it during their menstrual period while majority of the respondents don’t have a particular time they perform BSE. Only 31.4% of the respondents practice BSE by standing in front of the mirror, 23.1% practice it lying down while 24.9% of the respondents practice breast self-examination during shower.  It was concluded that the willingness to practice BSE, close to two-third respondents (64.5%) in the health-related faculties were willing to practiced BSE compared with over one-third (37.0%) among respondents in non-health related faculties. Overall, about 42.2% of the total respondents practiced BSE reflecting a low level compared with the respondent’s level of knowledge about breast cancer. There is need to promote BSE among this study population. It was then recommended that organization of one health week per session where the medical students educate and demonstrate to the non-medical students how to perform BSE hence creating awareness about the disease and methods of preventing it and or early detection of the disease; and that the federal ministry of health should introduce structured health education module course into academic curriculum for students to be informed on important health issues like breast cancer and the proper breast self-examination, early detection of a lump or breast injury to the appropriate hospitals and clinics.