Tab. III.
Knowledge of Breast Self-Examination (BSE) among female senior secondary school students in State Government-owned schools of Otuocha Educational Zone, Anambra State, Nigeria.
| S/N | Description | Agree (%) |
Unsure (%) |
Disagree (%) |
Total scores** (average: 1 to 3) |
Correct scores* (% of average) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. Knowledge of who should practice BSE (Q2, Part 3 of Questionnaire) | ||||||
| 1 | All women ≥20 years (n = 320) | 138 (43.1)* | 103 (32.2) | 79 (24.7) | 699 (2.18) | 414 (59.2) |
| 2 | Only married women (n = 313) | 36 (11.5) | 84 (26.8) | 193 (61.7)* | 783 (2.50) | 597 (73.9) |
| 3 | Only sexually active women (n = 317) | 55 (17.4) | 93 (29.3) | 169 (53.3)* | 748 (2.36) | 507 (67.8) |
| 4 | Only women that have been pregnant (n = 317) | 32 (10.1) | 117 (36.9) | 168 (53.0)* | 770 (2.43) | 504 (65.5) |
| 5 | Only post-menopausal women (n = 318) | 39 (12.3) | 109 (34.3) | 170 (53.5)* | 767 (2.41) | 510 (66.5) |
| 6 | Only women with positive family history of breast cancer (n = 319) | 77 (24.1) | 105 (32.9) | 137 (42.9)* | 698 (2.19) | 411 (58.9) |
| Totals | 4,465 (2.35) | 2,943 (65.9) | ||||
| B. Knowledge of BSE Frequency (Q3, Part 3 of Questionnaire) | ||||||
| 7 | Once a day (n = 314) | 72 (22.9) | 118 (37.6) | 124 (39.5)* | 680 (2.17) | 372 (54.7) |
| 8 | Once a week (n = 312) | 74 (23.7) | 131 (42.0) | 107 (34.3)* | 657 (2.11) | 321 (48.9) |
| 9 | Once a month (n = 314) | 99 (31.5)* | 127 (40.4) | 88 (28.0) | 639 (2.04) | 297 (46.5) |
| 10 | Once every 6 months (n = 311) | 51 (16.4) | 136 (43.7) | 124 (39.9)* | 695 (2.23) | 372 (53.5) |
| 11 | Once every year (n = 312) | 46 (14.7) | 112 (35.8) | 155 (49.5)* | 735 (2.35) | 228 (31.0) |
| Totals | 3,406 (2.18) | 1,590 (46.7) | ||||
| C. Knowledge of BSE Timing (Q4, Part 3 of Questionnaire) | ||||||
| 12 | Anytime during cycle (n = 317) | 133 42.0 | 108 (34.1) | 76 (24.0)* | 577 (1.82) | 228 (39.5) |
| 13 | During menstrual flow (n = 314) | 88 (28.0) | 130 (41.4) | 96 (30.6)* | 636 (2.03) | 288 (45.3) |
| 14 | 7 to 10 days after periods (n = 313) | 77 (24.6)* | 153 (48.9) | 83 (26.5) | 620 (1.98) | 231 (37.3) |
| 15 | Midway through your cycle (n = 312) | 49 (15.7) | 175 (56.1) | 88 (28.2)* | 663 (2.13) | 264 (39.8) |
| 16 | 7 to 10 days before period (n = 313) | 62 (19.8) | 157 (50.2) | 94 (30.0)* | 658 (2.10) | 282 (42.9) |
| Totals | 3,154 (2.01) | 1,293 (41.0) | ||||
| D. Knowledge of BSE Techniques (Q12, Part 3 of Questionnaire) | ||||||
| 17 | Standing in front of a mirror (n = 315) | 174 (55.2)* | 86 (27.3) | 55 (17.5) | 749 (2.38) | 522 (69.7) |
| 18 | Lying down (n = 311) | 77 (24.8)* | 139 (44.7) | 95 (30.5) | 604 (1.94) | 231 (38.2) |
| 19 | Use one hand to examine the opposite one, and vice versa (n = 312) | 149 (47.8)* | 118 (37.8) | 45 (14.4) | 728 (2.33) | 447 (61.4) |
| 20 | Use finger pads/pulps (n = 312) | 101 (32.4)* | 146 (46.8) | 65 (20.8) | 660 (2.12) | 303 (45.9) |
| 21 | Use fingernails to examine (n = 310) | 45 (14.5) | 135 (43.5) | 130 (41.9)* | 705 (2.27) | 390 (55.3) |
| 22 | Use palms to examine (n = 310) | 75 (24.2) | 137 (44.2) | 98 (31.6)* | 643 (2.07) | 294 (45.7) |
| 23 | Use one finger only (n = 311) | 51 (16.4) | 134 (43.1) | 126 (40.5)* | 697 (2.24) | 378 (54,2) |
| 24 | Use the 3 middle fingers only (n = 308) | 62 (20.1)* | 154 (50.0) | 92 (29.9) | 586 (1.90) | 186 (31.7) |
| 25 | Use circular motions till all parts are covered (n = 312) | 125 (40.1)* | 129 (41.3) | 58 (18.6) | 691 (2.21) | 375 (54.3) |
| 26 | Use vertical motions till all parts covered (n = 313) | 117 (37.4)* | 143 (45.7) | 53 (16.9) | 690 (2.20) | 351 (50.9) |
| 27 | Examine breasts in wedges till all parts examined (n = 311) | 103 (33.1)* | 162 (52.1) | 46 (14.8) | 679 (2.18) | 309 (45.5) |
| 28 | Press the nipple to check for any discharge (n = 312) | 126 (40.4)* | 133 (42.6) | 53 (17.0) | 697 (2.23) | 378 (54.2) |
| 29 | Examine the armpit for lumps (n = 305) | 108 (35.4)* | 134 (43.9) | 63 (20.7) | 655 (2.15) | 324 (49.5) |
| 30 | Look for any changes in breast size or shape (n = 310) | 167 (53.9)* | 105 (33.9) | 38 (12.3) | 649 (2.42) | 501 (77.2) |
| 31 | Look at shape of nipples (n = 312) | 123 (39.4)* | 147 (47.1) | 42 (13.5) | 705 (2.26) | 369 (52.3) |
| 32 | Raise one hand above the head while examining breast on that side (n = 313) | 147 (47.0)* | 111 (35.5) | 55 (17.6) | 718 (2.29) | 441 (61.4) |
| 33 | Undress to the waist (n = 311) | 86 (27.7)* | 135 (43.4) | 90 (28.9) | 618 (1.99) | 258 (41.7) |
| Totals | 11,464 (2.19) | 6,057 (52.9) | ||||
| Grand totals for BSE knowledge |
22,489 (2.18) 11,883 (52.84) |
|||||
-**Total scores are derived by the sum of the following: Correct responses (marked with *; multiply by 3) + Unsure (multiply by 2) + Incorrect (multiply by 1)
- Result interpretation: ≥ 70% = Excellent knowledge; ≥ 50 to < 70% = Moderate knowledge; < 50% = Poor knowledge