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Abstract
Breast cancer is the most frequent malignancy of women worldwide. The objective of this study is to explore the socio-demographic profiles of women attending the hospital and evaluate their understanding and awareness of breast self- examination practices.
Methodology: A descriptive study design was employed at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Teaching Hospital in Karbala City. The study aimed to assess Women's Awareness and Knowledge toward breast self- examination from 1st February 2024 to 1st February 2025. The study included a convenient sample of 100 women from the Obstetrics and Gynecology Teaching Hospital in Karbala City, specifically from the outpatient department.
Result: The age distribution showed that most participants were between 20 and 26 years old, while fewer were in the older age categories. However, no significant association was found between age and breast cancer knowledge (p = 0.120). Regarding the age of first menarche, the majority of women experienced it at age 12 and again, no significant relationship was found with knowledge (p = 0.085). A highly significant correlation was observed between education level and knowledge (p = 0.001), with women holding higher education (39.0% with college and higher education) demonstrating better knowledge about breast cancer. Marital status also showed a significant association (p = 0.005), with single women making up the largest group (51.5%). Regarding occupation, a highly significant relationship was found (p = 0.001), with the majority of participants being housewives (40.0%), followed by government employees, private sector employees, and unskilled workers. Economic status also played a role, with 53.5% of women stating their economic situation was sufficient to some extent, and this factor had a significant impact on their knowledge (p = 0.05).
Conclusion: Overall, education, marital status, occupation, economic status, menstrual history, and family history of breast cancer were key factors influencing women's knowledge in this study.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Ismael Mohammed Alsaadi, Nada Khazal K. Hindi, Huda Mohammed Reda, Sarmad Salih Jawad, Noor Fadhil Al Maamouri, Rehab Flieh Hassan (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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References
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- Salloum MH, Ali HS, Abd Ressen O. Knowledge of female nursing students regarding breast self-examination in University of Karbala. Bahrain Med Bull. 2024;46(1).
- Dan M, Safiya M. Knowledge and attitude towards the practice of breast self-examination among women in Namuwongo Zones A and B [dissertation]. Kampala (UG): International Health Sciences University; 2017.
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- Tong CW, Wu M, Cho WC, To KK. Recent advances in the treatment of breast cancer. Front Oncol. 2018;8:227. doi:10.3389/fonc.2018.00227
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- Majid MAA, Othman M, Mohamad SF, Lim SAH, Yusof A. Piloting for interviews in qualitative research: operationalization and lessons learnt. Int J Acad Res Bus Soc Sci. 2017;7(4):1073–80. doi:10.1177/0272684X19862148
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- Oladimeji KE, Tsoka-Gwegweni JM, Igbodekwe FC, Twomey M, Akolo C, Balarabe HS, et al. Knowledge and beliefs of breast self-examination and breast cancer among market women in Ibadan, South West, Nigeria. PLoS One. 2015;10(11):e0140904. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0140904
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References
FH R, KJ S. Knowledge and attitudes of women toward breast self-examination in Hilla City: application of the Health Belief Model. Indian J Forensic Med Toxicol. 2020;14(3). doi:10.1002/hsr2.1678
Taher MB, Sherfad M, Abufalgha K. Evaluation of the level of awareness and knowledge of self-examination and mammography examination among a group of Libyan women in Misurata City. AlQalam J Med Appl Sci. 2024:628–33. Doi: 0000-0003-2728-6822
Salloum MH, Ali HS, Abd Ressen O. Knowledge of female nursing students regarding breast self-examination in University of Karbala. Bahrain Med Bull. 2024;46(1).
Dan M, Safiya M. Knowledge and attitude towards the practice of breast self-examination among women in Namuwongo Zones A and B [dissertation]. Kampala (UG): International Health Sciences University; 2017.
Waks AG, Winer EP. Breast cancer treatment: a review. JAMA. 2019;321(3):288–300. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.19323
Tong CW, Wu M, Cho WC, To KK. Recent advances in the treatment of breast cancer. Front Oncol. 2018;8:227. doi:10.3389/fonc.2018.00227
Bashirian S, Mohammadi Y, Barati M, Moaddabshoar L, Dogonchi M. Effectiveness of theory-based educational interventions on screening of breast cancer in women: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int Q Community Health Educ. 2020;40(3):219–36. doi:10.1177/0272684X19862148
Noreen M, Murad S, Furqan M, Sultan A, Bloodsworth P. Knowledge and awareness about breast cancer and its early symptoms among medical and non-medical students of Southern Punjab, Pakistan. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2015;16(3).
Majid MAA, Othman M, Mohamad SF, Lim SAH, Yusof A. Piloting for interviews in qualitative research: operationalization and lessons learnt. Int J Acad Res Bus Soc Sci. 2017;7(4):1073–80. doi:10.1177/0272684X19862148
Jobran AW, Banat MA, Awad BY, Warasna HJ, Taqatqa YR, Jawabreh M, et al. Breast cancer knowledge and practice of breast self-examination among Palestinian females, West Bank: a cross-sectional study. Health Sci Rep. 2023;6(11):e1678. doi:10.1002/hsr2.1678
Abenwie SN, Essi MJ, Edo'o VD, Hervé JN, Ndom P. Role of health promotion in cancer control in Cameroon and its utilization by the National Cancer Control Program (NCCP), strategy from 2004–2019. Int Res J Public Environ Health. 2021.
Nakaganda A, Cira MK, Abdella K, Uwinkindi F, Mugo-Sitati C, Duncan K. Expanding best practices for implementing evidence-based cancer control strategies in Africa: the 2019–2020 Africa cancer research and control ECHO program. J Cancer Policy. 2021;28:100286.
Taylor A, Brady AF, Frayling IM, Hanson H, Tischkowitz M, Turnbull C, et al. Consensus for genes to be included on cancer panel tests offered by UK genetics services: guidelines of the UK Cancer Genetics Group. J Med Genet. 2018;55(6):372–7. doi:10.1136/jmedgenet-2017-105188
Rahman SA, Al-Marzouki A, Otim M, Khayat NEHK, Yousef R, Rahman P. Awareness about breast cancer and breast self-examination among female students at the University of Sharjah: a cross-sectional study. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2019;20(6):1901.
Abd-Elaziz NM, Kamal HH, Abd-Elhady H. Effect of breast self-examination programme on women's awareness for early detection of breast cancer. Minia Sci Nurs J. 2021;10(1):132–40.
Jelenc M, Martin-Moreno JM, Albreht T. The development of a European guide for quality national cancer control programmes. Rev Zdravstvene Vede. 2020;7(2):115–24.
Oladimeji KE, Tsoka-Gwegweni JM, Igbodekwe FC, Twomey M, Akolo C, Balarabe HS, et al. Knowledge and beliefs of breast self-examination and breast cancer among market women in Ibadan, South West, Nigeria. PLoS One. 2015;10(11):e0140904. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0140904
Rakhshani T, Dada M, Kashfi SM, Kamyab A, Jeihooni AK. The effect of educational intervention on knowledge, attitude, and practice of women towards breast cancer screening. Int J Breast Cancer. 2022;2022:5697739. doi:10.1155/2022/5697739
McPhail ED, Maurer MJ, Macon WR, Feldman AL, Kurtin PJ, Ketterling RP, et al. Inferior survival in high-grade B-cell lymphoma with MYC and BCL2 and/or BCL6 rearrangements is not associated with MYC/IG gene rearrangements. Haematologica. 2018;103(11):1899. doi:10.3324/haematol.2018.19015
Del Carmen OJM, Emilia GRD, Mares BH, Marcela OJ. Educational interventions on breast cancer in men and women: a necessity in primary healthcare. ecancermedicalscience. 2021;15:1255. doi:10.1155/2022/5697739