Assessment of breast self-examination practice and its associated factors among female undergraduate students in Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2016

Figures & data

Table 1 Sociodemographic characteristics of female undergraduate students in Addis Ababa University, College of Business and Economics, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2016 (n=407)

Variables	Frequency	%
Age (years)
20–22	347	85.3
≥23	60	14.7
Marital status
Single	387	95.1
Married	16	3.9
Divorced/separated	4	1.0
Previous place of residence
Urban	342	84.0
Rural	65	16.0
Year of study
First year	109	26.8
Second year	170	41.8
Third year	128	31.4
Family average monthly income (ETB)
<445	12	2.9
446–1,200	27	6.7
1,201–2,500	79	19.4
2,501–3,500	39	9.6
>3,501	250	61.4

Abbreviation: ETB, Ethiopian Birr.

Table 2 History of breast cancer among female undergraduate students in Addis Ababa University, College of Business and Economics, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2016

Variables	Frequency	%
Family history of breast cancer (n=407)
Yes	41	10.1
No	366	89.9
Family member who had history of breast cancer (n=41)
Mother	7	17.1
Sister	1	2.4
Grand mother	12	29.3
Aunt	21	51.2
Personal history of breast cancer (n=407)
Yes	13	3.2
No	394	96.8
Knows someone suffering from breast cancer (n=407)
Yes	99	24.3
No	308	75.7

Figure 1 Breast self-examination practice among female undergraduate students in Addis Ababa University, College of Business and Economics, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2016.

Table 3 Assessment of BSE practice among female undergraduate students in Addis Ababa University, College of Business and Economics, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2016

Variables	Frequency	%
Ever performed BSE (n=407)
Yes	87	21.4
No	320	78.6
Frequency of performing BSE (n=87)
Once in a week	12	13.8
Once in a month	45	51.7
Once in 3 months	7	8.0
Once in 6 years	10	11.5
Once in a year	13	14.9
Reason to perform BSEa (n=87)
Had previous breast problem	6	6.6
Fear of breast cancer from family history	16	17.6
Recommended by health professional	29	31.9
For early detection and treatment	27	29.7
Fear of developing breast cancer	13	14.3
Age when you start practicing BSE (n=87)
Less than 25 years	70	80.5
Between 25 and 30 years	10	11.5
Between 31 and 35 years	2	2.3
Above 35 years	5	5.7
The time you perform BSE (n=87)
2–3 days after session of menstruation	9	10.5
When it comes to mind	53	60.9
Regular days of each month	7	8.0
Few days before menses	5	5.7
Any time during the month	13	14.9

a Note: Total number is not equal to “n” due to multiple response.

Abbreviation: BSE, breast self-examination.

Figure 2 Reason for not practicing BSE among female undergraduate students in Addis Ababa University, College of Business and Economics, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2016.

Note: *No benefit from practicing it, it is not comfortable, lack of privacy, fear of detecting abnormalities.
Abbreviation: AOR, adjusted odds ratio; BSE, breast self-examination.

Figure 3 Overall knowledge and attitude of BSE among female undergraduate students in Addis Ababa University, College of Business and Economics, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2016.

Abbreviation: BSE, breast self-examination.

Table 4 Factors associated with BSE practice among female undergraduate students in Addis Ababa University, College of Business and Economics, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2016

Variables	BSE practice		COR (95% CI)	P-value	AOR (95% CI)	P-value
	Yes, n (%)	No, n (%)
Family history of breast cancer  Yes No	15 (36.6) 72 (19.7)	26 (63.4) 294 (80.3)	2.36 (1.19–4.68) 1.00	0.014	2.33 (1.01–5.39) 1.00	0.048
Personal history of breast cancer  Yes No	6 (46.2) 81 (20.6)	7 (53.8) 313 (79.4)	3.31 (1.08–10.13) 1.00	0.036	3.69 (0.74–18.51) 1.00	0.112
Attitude toward BSE  Poor attitude Good attitude	17 (8.5) 70 (34.0)	184 (91.5) 136 (66.0)	1.00 5.57 (3.14–9.90)	<0.001	1.00 4.68 (2.41–9.07)	<0.001
Knowledge toward BSE  Poor knowledge Good knowledge	9 (4.4) 78 (38.4)	195 (95.6) 125 (61.6)	1.00 13.52 (6.54–27.93)	<0.001	1.00 12.42 (5.48–28.17)	<0.001
Knows someone suffering from breast cancer  Yes No	35 (35.4) 52 (16.9)	64 (64.6) 256 (83.1)	2.69 (1.62–4.48) 1.00	<0.001	1.68 (0.90–3.14) 1.00	0.102

Abbreviation: AOR, adjusted odds ratio; COR, crude odds ratio; BSE, breast self-examination.