Evaluating The Knowledge of Breast Cancer Risk Factors and Screening Methods among Community Health Workers in Kicukiro District, Rwanda: A cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Globally, the burden of breast cancer is rising with high mortality and morbidity rates particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Increasing public knowledge of breast cancer is crucial to achieve early detection and subsequent improvements in patient outcomes. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of breast cancer risk factors and screening methods among community health workers in Kicukiro District, Rwanda. Methodology: A quantitative approach with a cross-sectional design was used for this study in the Kicukiro District at Gikondo and Masaka Health Centers. Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data from 183 community health workers. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27. Descriptive and inferential statistics were computed. P-values (< 0.05) was used to establish significance. Results Out of 183 participants, 73.8% (n = 135) were female and 26.20% (n = 48) were male. Most were aged above 35 years (63.9%, n = 117) with an average working experience of 3 years. About (80.30%) of the participants knew that smoking and alcohol consumption (59.60%) as the breast cancer risk factor, but generally most of them didn’t know the breast cancer risk factors and screening methods. There was no observed correlation between experience as a community health worker and knowing positive family history is a risk factor of breast cancer (r = -0.166, p < 0.05). Moreover, a significant positive correlation was observed between training history and knowing family history and early onset of menarche are risk factors of breast cancer with (r = 0.145, p < 0.05) and (r = 0.166, P < 0.05) respectively. A significant association was found between knowing about large breasts as a breast cancer risk factor and sociodemographic characteristics with (t = 2.645, p = 0.009). Conclusion Community health workers who are expected to act as role models and educate the public about breast cancer lack basic understanding of the risk factors and screening strategies for breast cancer.