Open AccessBreast Cancer: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Female Schoolteachers in Lagos, Nigeria
Author(s) -
Odusanya O. O.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
the breast journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.533
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1524-4741
pISSN - 1075-122X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1524-4741.1998.410062.x-i1
Subject(s) - medicine , breast cancer , breast self examination , family medicine , quarter (canadian coin) , cancer , breast cancer awareness , cross sectional study , gynecology , pathology , archaeology , history
This article examines the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of female schoolteachers concerning breast cancer. A cross‐sectional survey was conducted among 200 schoolteachers randomly selected from 12 schools in Lagos, Nigeria. A self‐administered questionnaire was used to investigate their knowledge about the symptoms of breast cancer, methods of diagnosis, risk factors, and breast self‐examination. A response rate of 94% (188 respondents) was achieved. Eighty‐five percent knew breast cancer was a serious disease, but only 53.2% knew that a breast lump was the most commonly recognized sign. Other symptoms were even less well known. Only 13.8% knew the methods of diagnosis, and knowledge of risk factors was also poor. Breast self‐examination was practiced by 62% of respondents; 11% practiced it on a monthly basis, but only 25% were deemed to possess sufficient knowledge about the procedure. One‐quarter of participants were categorized as possessing a satisfactory knowledge of breast cancer. The level of awareness on breast cancer is very low among this group of female schoolteachers.