Table 2.
Breast cancer awareness, attitudes, and practices among survey respondents
| Question | Response | N | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Signs and symptoms of breast cancer | |||
| Can swelling of the breast be a sign of cancer? | Yes | 132 | 46.0 |
| No/I do not know | 155 | 54.0 | |
| Can changing nipples or discharge be a sign of cancer? | Yes | 139 | 48.4 |
| No/I do not know | 143 | 49.8 | |
| Missing | 5 | 1.7 | |
| Screening awareness | |||
| Do you know about breast cancer screening? | Yes | 139 | 48.4 |
| No/I do not know | 148 | 51.2 | |
| From which source have you heard about breast cancer screening? | Media (TV, radio, newspaper) | 98 | 34.1 |
| Health professional | 52 | 18.1 | |
| In the community/ local people | 111 | 38.7 | |
| Social media | 26 | 9.1 | |
| Do you know about breast self-examination? | Yes | 170 | 59.2 |
| No/I do not know | 117 | 40.8 | |
| If yes, should self-examination start at age 20? (n = 170) | Yes | 133 | 78.2 |
| No | 8 | 4.7 | |
| I do not know | 29 | 17.1 | |
| If yes, should the self-exam be performed standing in front of a mirror with hands raised? | Yes | 118 | 69.4 |
| No | 2 | 1.2 | |
| I do not know | 50 | 29.4 | |
| If yes, can the self-exam be performed lying down? | Yes | 112 | 65.9 |
| No | 4 | 2.4 | |
| I do not know | 54 | 31.8 | |
| If yes, can swelling or skin changes be seen by moving one’s fingers over the breast? | Yes | 138 | 81.2 |
| No | 7 | 4.1 | |
| I do not know | 25 | 14.7 | |
| If yes, can discharge be observed by touching the nipple? | Yes | 141 | 82.9 |
| No | 29 | 17.1 | |
| I do not know | 0 | 0 | |
| Missing | 1 | 0.6 | |
| If yes, should self-exam include a check for swelling in the armpit? | Yes | 131 | 77.1 |
| No | 7 | 4.1 | |
| I do not know | 33 | 19.4 | |
| Attitudes | |||
| Do you think screening for breast cancer is important? | Strongly Agree | 245 | 85.4 |
| Agree | 40 | 13.9 | |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 2 | 0.7 | |
| Disagree | 0 | 0 | |
| Strongly disagree | 0 | 0 | |
| Should every woman self-examine her breast? | Strongly Agree | 203 | 70.7 |
| Agree | 79 | 27.5 | |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 2 | 0.7 | |
| Disagree | 3 | 1.0 | |
| Strongly disagree | 0 | 0 | |
| Should women discuss breast self-examination? | Strongly Agree | 188 | 65.5 |
| Agree | 90 | 31.4 | |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 5 | 1.7 | |
| Disagree | 4 | 1.4 | |
| Strongly disagree | 0 | 0 | |
| Do you think self-examination is embarrassing? | Strongly Agree | 20 | 7.0 |
| Agree | 8 | 2.8 | |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 5 | 1.7 | |
| Disagree | 192 | 66.9 | |
| Strongly disagree | 62 | 21.6 | |
| Is breast self-examination scary? | Strongly Agree | 59 | 20.6 |
| Agree | 47 | 16.4 | |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 129 | 45.0 | |
| Disagree | 50 | 17.4 | |
| Strongly disagree | 2 | 0.7 | |
| Practice | |||
| Do you practice self-examination for breast changes? | Yes | 218 | 76.0 |
| No | 69 | 24.0 |