Knowledge, awareness, and practice of breast self-examination among females in Mosul city, Iraq.

AIMS

This study is carried out to report on the knowledge and practice regarding breast self-examination (BSE) among women from the city of Mosul in Iraq and to evaluate the prevalence of performing clinical breast examination (CBE) and mammography among them.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

A descriptive, cross-sectional survey carried out among females working in the University of Mosul, as a sample of the female population of Mosul city.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

The sample was collected conveniently, and the data were collected from July to November 2018. Data were collected by interviews with 405 participants. Knowledge answers were scored and categorized into two groups: good and poor level of knowledge.

RESULTS

A final sample of 384 participants were included in the analysis, with a mean age of 42.58 ± 8.9. Only 39 (10.1%) and 37 (9.6%) participants performed mammographic examination and CBE of their breasts, respectively. Just 100 (30.3%) of the 330 females who knew BSE performed BSE routinely or intermittently. The mean knowledge score was 4.22 ± 1.66, and only 141 females (42.7%) were found to have a good level of knowledge. A statistically significant association of knowledge level with marital status (P = 0.015), perceived benefit of BSE (P = 0.001), previous gain of instructions of BSE (P < 0.05), and the provider (P < 0.05) was found.

CONCLUSIONS

The performance results of BSE were poor as well as for CBE and mammography among the study participants. There is a need for educational programs to create awareness and improve knowledge about routine breast cancer screening behavior.