BREAST SELF-EXAMINATION AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG FEMALE NURSES AT DIRE DAWA TOWN PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTIONS, EASTERN ETHIOPIA.

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women worldwide. An estimated 521,900 breast cancer deaths occurred in women in 2012. However, the recent developments in the field of molecular biology try to clear the reasons of breast cancer, but there is no substantial way to treat this cancer. One of the best ways to early detection of this cancer is screening. The best acceptable ways of screening for the breast cancer which is advised by the American Cancer Society are Breast Self-Examination, Clinical Breast Examination and mammography. Among these, Breast Self-Examination is the recommended method in developing countries because it is easy, convenient, private, safe, and requires no specific equipment. Even though BSE is a simple, quick and cost-free procedure, the practice of BSE is low and varies in different countries. This paper, therefore, attempts to assess the level of practice of self-breast examination and associated factors among Female Nurses working in Dire Dawa town health facilities. This study aimed to assess level of practice and factors associated with breast self-examination among female Nurses working in Dire Dawa town public health institutions from March 1 to March 15, 2016. Facility based cross-sectional study design was used on sample of 387 Female nurses. Systematic random sampling techniques with proportional allocation were employed to assess the practice of breast self-examination and associated factors among female Nurse Professionals working in public health facilities of Dire Dawa, Ethiopia. Structured self-administered questionnaire was used and Ethical approval was obtained from ethical review committee of Haramaya University and verbal consent was obtained from the participants. Bivariate analysis was used principally. The result showed that nurses have a good knowledge and positive attitude towards breast self-examination but their performance (i.e., regular practice of BSE) was very low. The main reasons for not doing breast self-examination were carelessness, forgetfulness, fear of being diagnosed with breast cancer, having no breast problem and other factors. Nurses with education status of degree and above (p=0.002), clinical experience of 10 year and above (p=0.001), Personal history breast problem (p=0.001) and good knowledge (p=0.0001) were significantly associated with breast self examination practice.