Table 3.
Women’s Knowledge on breast cancer identity and causes (n = 404)
| Breast cancer identity scores, n (%) | |||
| Disagree/Strongly Disagree | Undecided | Agree/Strongly Agree | |
| The presence of a lump or thickening in the breast | 5 (1.2) | 26 (6.4) | 373 (92.3) |
| Nipple discharge | 3 (0.7) | 54 (13.4) | 347 (85.9) |
| Sudden nipple retraction | 2 (0.5) | 64 (15.8) | 338 (83.7) |
| Change in shape or appearance of the nipple | 2 (0.5) | 29 (7.2) | 373 (92.3) |
| Breast swelling, dimpling, redness or soreness of the skin | 3 (0.7) | 66 (16.3) | 335 (82.9) |
| Skin changes of the breast | 3 (0.7) | 67 (16.6) | 334 (82.7) |
| A sudden change in breast size | 5 (1.2) | 52 (12.9) | 347 (85.9) |
| Aching breasts | 40 (9.9) | 114 (28.2) | 250 (61.9) |
| Causes of breast cancer scores, n (%) | |||
| Disagree/Strongly Disagree | Undecided | Agree/Strongly Agree | |
| Stress or worry | 152 (37.6) | 95 (23.5) | 157 (38.9) |
| Your mental attitude | 262 (64.9) | 94 (23.3) | 48 (11.8) |
| Family problems or worries | 171 (42.3) | 82 (20.3) | 151 (37.4) |
| Overwork | 281 (69.6) | 59 (14.6) | 64 (15.8) |
| Your emotional state | 257 (63.6) | 76 (18.8) | 71 (17.6) |
| Your personality | 262 (64.9) | 94 (23.3) | 48 (11.8) |
| Hereditary - it runs in the family | 5 (1.2) | 10 (2.5) | 389 (96.3) |
| Diet or eating habits | 121 (30.0) | 61 (15.1) | 222 (55.0) |
| Poor medical care in the past | 98 (24.3) | 90 (22.3) | 216 (53.4) |
| Your own behaviour | 174 (43.1) | 172 (42.6) | 58 (14.3) |
| Ageing | 142 (35.1) | 63 (15.6) | 199 (49.3) |
| Smoking | 47 (11.6) | 39 (9.7) | 318 (78.7) |
| Alcohol | 80 (19.8) | 60 (14.9) | 264 (65.3) |
| A germ or virus | 124 (30.7) | 124 (30.7) | 156 (38.6) |
| Pollution in the environment | 65 (16.1) | 49 (12.1) | 290 (71.8) |
| Altered immunity | 43 (10.6) | 69 (17.1) | 292 (72.3) |
| Chance or bad luck | 205 (50.7) | 37 (9.2) | 162 (40.1) |
| Accident or injury | 158 (39.1) | 54 (13.4) | 192 (47.5) |