Emergency Medicine: Open Access
Open Access

Abstract

Knowledge of Breast Cancer and Associated Factors among Women Reproductive Age in Bale Zone, Southeast Ethiopia: A Community based Cross Sectional Study

Abduljewad Hussen, Musa Kumbi, Abate Lette and Shamsu Nuriye

Introduction: Globally, Breast Cancer (BC) is the most prevalent cancer and the second reason of cancer deaths among women, and it is the most common women’s cancer in unindustrialized countries. It is also considered to be a progressive disease with a poor prognosis if detected late.
Methods: A community based cross sectional study was conducted among reproductive age group women in Bale zone, southeast Ethiopia. Interviewer administered questionnaire were used for quantitative part of the study and supplemented qualitatively using Focus Group Discussions (FGD). Data were interred into EPI info version 3.5.3 and analysed using SPSS version 20. Bivariate logistic regression was done to examine the relationship between each explanatory and outcome variable. To retain for subsequent multiple logistic regression p-value<0.25 was
considered. The strength of association was tested using adjusted odds ratio, 95% CI and value<0.05.
Results: Four hundred twenty (50.2%) of participants heard about breast cancer. Out of these, 236 (56.2%) of respondents had knowledge score of greater than or equal to the mean knowledge score which categorized them as knowledgeable about breast cancer. Media (television and radio) was reported as a major source of information for nearly half 204 (48.6%) of the participants.
Conclusion: Factors such as residing in urban, having better monthly income, knowing the seriousness of breast cancer, knowing the treatability of breast cancer and previous information or health education on BC at health facility were the factors which can raise the odds of breast cancer knowledge. Therefore, it is very important to develop health service programs that can address all mothers according to their auspicious place and time to increase knowledge of breast cancer through information and health education regarding its sign and symptoms, risk factors, early detection, and management systems to reduce the burden of BC among rural community.