Awareness and practice of breast self-examination among women in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan: a cross-sectional study
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Abstract
Objectives: To assess awareness and practice of breast self-examination (BSE), identify factors contributing to the gap between awareness and practice, and determine key sources of information among women in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from September to November 2022 in Khyber Teaching Hospital, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Rehman Medical Institute and Kuwait Teaching Hospital in Peshawar. A total of 385 married women aged 20–65 years were recruited through purposive sampling. Data were collected via a pretested, validated questionnaire assessing demographics, BSE awareness, and practice. Awareness and practice were scored using predefined criteria. Data were analyzed through SPSS version-22.
Results: Of 425 approached participants, 385 (90.6%) were included (mean age 36.5±11.5 years). Only 42.7% (n=164/385) had heard of BSE, and overall awareness was low, with 84% (n=323/385) not aware, 12.9% (n=50/385) partially aware, and 3.1% (n=12/385) substantially aware. Among those aware, social media (26.2%) and home sources (25.0%) were the main information channels. Practice of BSE was suboptimal; 62.8% (n=103/385) had never been taught by healthcare staff. Overall, 26.8% (n=44/164) demonstrated excellent practice, 53 (32.3%) had good, 51 (31.1%) had average, and 16 (9.8%) had poor practice. Higher educational level was significantly associated with better awareness (p=0.032), and higher awareness was strongly associated with better practice (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Awareness and practice of BSE among women in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are suboptimal, with significant gaps influenced by education and information sources. Targeted health education strategies, particularly through social media platforms, are essential to improve early breast cancer detection practices.
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