Knowledge, Attitudes and Barriers of Breast Self-Examination Among Women in Nyio Ward, Arua City

Breast self-examination (BSE) is an effective, inexpensive and simple screening technique for examining breasts monthly to detect breast cancer. Among women diagnosed with breast cancer in Uganda, 89 per cent of them present with stage III or IV, which has a poor prognosis. This study was conducted to assess knowledge, attitudes and barriers regarding BSE among women in Nyio ward, Arua City, Uganda. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 354 women selected by cluster sampling and random walk method. Data was entered into Microsoft Excel, coded and analysed using the SPSS version 23. Knowledge of BSE among the participants was low. Less than half of the respondents (47.5 per cent) had ever heard about BSE as means of early detection of breast cancer and only 23.2 per cent knew how to perform BSE. The majority (95.8 per cent) had a positive attitude towards BSE practice, 85.7 per cent believed BSE is crucial in detecting breast cancer early, and most (83.3 per cent) agreed early detection increases the chances of long-term survival. The most common barrier towards BSE was lack of awareness. A multidisciplinary approach, including the use of mass media, is required to create awareness about BSE and to reach a broader community.