Control of breast cancer using health education.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the efficacy of mass screening in the control of primary breast cancer among a selected group of women from Mpigi district, Uganda.

DESIGN

Qualitative study by comparing the level of knowledge of risk factors, attitude and practice to breast cancer and the ability to carry out self breast examination before and after intervention study.

SETTING

Nineteen static units in three counties of Mpigi district, Uganda.

SUBJECTS

Three thousand and three women aged 15 years and above resident in the study area. INTERVENTION METHODS: Health education and self breast examination.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Level of knowledge of risk factors, attitude and practice to breast cancer when one falls sick and ability to carry out self breast examination.

RESULTS

Baseline study established that participants did not know the risk factors and could not associate any risk factor with breast cancer. Knowledge of the art of self breast examination was non-existent. After intervention, all the participants knew the risk factors and could therefore associate them with breast cancer. Health seeking behaviours greatly improved and more than 90% could describe self breast examination satisfactorily.

CONCLUSION

Mass screening using health education can be carried out at grass root level by the health workers through various clinics such as maternal and child health clinics. These results can be extrapolated to other cancers where causes are not known and cure is not there. Mass screening should be included in primary health care programmes.