ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE TOWARDS BREAST SELF EXAMINATION AMONG FEMALE STUDENTS AT WORABE UNIVERSITY, SNNPR, ETHIOPIA, 2021

Abstract

Background: Global Burden of cancer (GLOBOCAN) 2020, reports that female breast cancer has suppressed lung cancer as the most commonly diagnosed cancer. It is also accountable for 6.9% of cancer-related death. Breast cancer ranked in the first place in terms of new cases diagnosed beside in terms of cancer death both in Africa as well as in Ethiopia. This is an alarming sign for all of us to wake and fight. Breast self-examination is simple, very low cost,non-invasive screening method. This method is more affordable for low-income nations like Ethiopia. So, as prevention is the cornerstone to fight the disease even if we can not prevent the case from happening but we can nose out it early and contribute to the better survival of all females. Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of breast self-examination among female students in Worabe University, SNNPR, Ethiopia, 2021. Methodology: The study was employed by an institutional-based cross-sectional study design. The sample size of this study was 301 female students. They are going to be randomly selected from all departments of the campus. All the necessary data was collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire after ethical clearance was obtained. Result: In this study, a total of 287 female students of Worabe University were involved with response rate of 95.3% of response rate. Consequently, the overall knowledge of the female students at Worabe University is found to be 127(44.3%) with 95% CI :(38-50%) in the case of attitude a total of 109 (38.0%) of study participants were found to have a favorable attitude towards BSE with 95% CI :(32-43%). In the end, it is found that only 54 (18.8%) of the participants have good practice of BSE with 95% CI:(14-23%). Conclusion: The status of knowledge, attitude, and practice of BSE among female students at Worabe University is insufficient. Recommendation:To prepare stage of health education,to involve mini medias and other clubs to involve in the issue ,to prepare fliers,postures and videos.