Breast Self-Examination Practice and Associated Factors Among Secondary School Female Teachers in Gammo Gofa Zone, Southern, Ethiopia

Abstract

Introduction

Nowadays, breast self-examination (BSE) is a breast cancer screening method that identifies breast mass by the woman herself. However, it is not widely practiced due to various problems. This study aimed to assess the magnitude of BSE practice and associated factors among female secondary school teachers in Gammo Gofa Zone, South Ethiopia.

Methods

An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 247 female secondary school teachers, from March 1 to 30, 2018. Participants were selected using the lottery method. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were cleaned, coded, and entered into Epi data manager 4.4 and analyzed using SPSS version 21. Binary logistic regression was employed.

Results

Of 82 respondents, 34.3% had ever performed BSE. Among these, only 32 (13.4%) had practiced BSE monthly (regularly). Being knowledgeable on BSE [AOR=2.84, 95% CI (1.41, 5.72)], ever heard about BSE [AOR=2.26, 95% CI (1.07, 4.77)], being married [AOR=4.09, 95% CI (1.64, 10.22)], having less perceived barrier to BSE [AOR=2.62, 95% CI (1.26, 5.46)], having high perceived confidence [AOR=3.63, 95% CI (1.79, 7.39)] and motivation to BSE [AOR=3.29, 95% CI (1.15, 9.45)] were significant predictors of BSE practice.

Conclusion

In this study, one in three women had ever practiced BSE, whereas about one in seven women regularly practiced BSE. The main reasons for not practicing BSE were: not knowing how to perform BSE and forgetfulness (for regular practice). Therefore, integrated work on behavioral change communication and interferences that focus on improving knowledge of BSE, and skills on how to perform BSE is needed. Additionally, the identified domains of the health belief model (perceived barrier, perceived confidence, and perceived motivation) may be the most effective strategies that should be considered by Gammo Gofa Zonal health and educational offices.

Keywords:

• breast self-examination
• breast cancer
• health belief model
• South Ethiopia

Abbreviations

BSE, breast self-examination; HBM, health belief model; HEWs, health extension workers; IRB, Institutional Review Board; MCH, Maternal and Child Health.

Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate

Ethical clearance was obtained from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the Jimma University Institute of Health. Further information and documentation to support this will be available on reasonable request. After receiving letters of permission to carry out the study from each administrative body, verbal informed consent, which was approved by the IRB, was taken from each study subject prior to interview after the purpose of the study was explained. The respondents were informed that the data collectors were trained only to collect information, but apart from this particular research, the data were not being passed to anybody. The privacy of the respondents was maintained and confidentiality of the information was respected (personal identification and ideas were not being used in any way which might threaten the respondent). There is no payment/incentive in participating in this interview.

Data Sharing Statement

The data sets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Author Contributions

MM made substantial contributions to conception and design, acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data. AN was involved in the design, analysis, and interpretation of data. AT was involved in drafting the manuscript or revising it critically for important intellectual content. All authors contributed to data analysis, drafting and revising the article, gave final approval of the version to be published, and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.