Exploring Knowledge about Breast Self- Examination among Middle-Aged Women in Aswan, Egypt (Upper Egypt)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51983/arss-2012.1.2.1214Keywords:
Breast, Self-Examination, Rural areas in AswanAbstract
Breast cancer is a major killer disease among women and an overwhelming number of women have fallen victim to this deadly disease worldwide as well as in Egypt. Thus, early detection of breast cancer is crucial to decreasing the morbidity and mortality of breast cancer. This qualitative, exploratory descriptive study aimed to understand the perceptions of Egyptian middle aged women about breast self-examination (BSE). The study was conducted in two rural areas in Aswan, Egypt, using the purposive sampling technique; twelve (12) middle aged women were selected as the study participants. Data was collected through semi-structured face to face interviews using an interview guide and an audiotape recorder. The interview was in the Arabic language. The qualitative content analysis (Unrau & Coleman, 1997) using the manual method, was utilized as the analytical method to identify emerging Categories and themes. The Cognitive domain was identified as the main theme with three categories: knowledge about breast cancer, knowledge of breast self-examination and preventive measures for breast cancer. The overall findings revealed that middle-aged women living in the rural areas in Upper Egypt lack knowledge about breast cancer and breast self- examination. In addition, they have a negative attitude towards BSE, thus the practice of BSE is very low, and in some cases, non- existent among women in Upper Egypt’s rural areas This study has implications for policy makers and other stake holders. Hence, it is recommended that accurate knowledge, support and service about breast cancer and BSE be provided in the region, to improve the practice of BSE as well as to decrease the mortality rate of breast cancer in Egypt.
References
El. Abd H. Aziz, O. Akl and H. Ibrahim,“Impact of a health education intervention program about breast cancer among women in a semi- urban area in Alexandria,” Egypt. Journal Egypt Public Health Association, Vol. 84, No. 1, pp. 219-43, 2009.
A. A. Alam, “Knowledge of breast cancer and its risk and protective factors among women in Riyadh,” Ann Saudi Med, Vol. 26, pp. 272- 277, 2006.
I. M. Alkhasawneh, L. M. Akhu-Zaheya, and S. M. Suleiman, Jordanian nurses’ knowledge and practice of breast self-examination. Journal of Advanced Nursing, Vol. 65, No. 2, pp. 412-416, 2009.
H. Anton, Female education in Upper Egypt. Retrieved on 10th June from http://essays24.com/print/Female-Education-Upper-Egypt/4039.html, 2011.
M. Balogun and E. Owoaje, Knowledge and practice of breast selfexamination among female traders in Ibadan, Nigeria. Annals of Ibadan Postgraduate Medicine, Vol. 3, pp. 52-56, 2005.
O. Baron-Epel, M. Granot, S. Badrna and S. Avrami, Perception of breast cancer among Arab Israeli women. Women & Health Journal, Vol. 40, No. 2, pp. 101-116.
L. Bowers, Preventive measures to stop breast cancer development. Retrieved on 10th June 2011, from http://www.suite101.com/content/breast-cancer-prevention-a255676.2010.
P. N. Chong, M. Krishnan, C. Y. Hong and T. S. Swah, Knowledge and Practice of Breast Cancer Screening Amongst Public Health Nurses in Singapore. Medical Journal, Vol. 43, pp. 509-516, 2002.
N. Clark-Tasker, Cancer prevention and early detection in African Americans. Louis: C. V. Mosby, 1993.
Collaborative Group on Hormonal Factors in Breast Cancer. Breast cancer and breastfeeding: collaborative reanalysis of individual data from 47 epidemiological studies in 30 c o u n t r i e s , including 50,302 women with breast cancer and 96,973 women without the disease. The Lancet 2002, Vol. 360, No. 9328, pp. 187– 195. [PubMed Abstract] cited in National Cancer Institute (2011). Reproductive History and Breast Cancer Risk. Retrieved on 4th September, 2012, from http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/reproductive-history
D. Davis, S. W. Beyerlein, C. Leise and D. A. Apple, Cognitive Domain. Retrieved on 10th June 2011, from http://cetl.matcmadison.edu/efgb/2/2_3_4.htm. 2004.
F. Demirkiran, N. Balkaya, S. Memis, G. Turk, S. Ozvurmaz, and P. Tuncyurek,How do nurses and teachers perform breast selfexamination: are they reliable sources of information? BMC Public Health, Vol. 7, No. 96, pp. 1-8, 2007.
S. Eaker, A.Wigertz, P. C. Lambert, L. Bergkvist, J. Ahlgren, and J. Ahlgren, et al. Breast cancer, sickness absence, income and marital status. A study on life situation 1 year prior diagnosis compared to 3 and 5 years after diagnosis. PLoS One, Vol. 6, No. 3, pp. 1-9, 2011.
S. A. George, Barriers to breast cancer screening: An integrative review. Health Care for Women International, Vol. 21, pp. 53–65, 2000.
Z. Heidari, H. R. Mahmoudzadeh-Sagheb and N. Sakhavar, Breast cancer screening knowledge and practice among women in Southeast of Iran. Acta Medica Iranica, Vol. 46, No. 4, pp. 321-328, 2008.
T. Highton, Breast self-examination powerful tool for early detection. Journal of Ayub Medical College, Vol. 166, No. 2, pp. 155-166, 2002.
Holy Quran, “AnNisa,” Vol. 78, Retrieved on 4th September, from 2012.http://www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/nora/html/4-78.html
Holy Qur’an, 26:80. Retrieved on 4th September, 2012, from h t t p : / / x e n i a g r e e k m u s l i m a h . w o r d p r e s s . com/2010/06/13/%E2%80%9Cand-when-i-am-ill-it-is-he-whocures- me%E2%80%9D-holy-quran-2680/
E. Iskander, The Education of women in Upper Egypt: Is poverty or tradition the main challenge? Retrieved on 10th June, from http:// www.wteconline.org/blog/?p=9 2008. 2011,
Iskandar, Egypt: where and who are the world’s illiterates? Retrieved on 10th June, from http://ddp-ext.worldbank.org/EdStats/ EGYgmrpro05.pdf. 2005. 2011.
N. K. Jaradeen, Breast cancer risk-factors and breast self-examination practice among Jordanian women. Bahrain Medical Bulletin, Vol. 32, No. 1, pp. 1-7, 2010.
J. Kelsey, M. Gammon and L. John, “Reproductive factors and breast cancer,” Epidemiology Review, Vol. 15, No. 1, pp. 36-47, 1993.
J. L. Lester, Breast cancer in 2007: Incidence, risk assessment, and risk reduction strategies. Clinical Journal Oncology Nursing, Vol. 11, No. 5, pp. 619-622, 2007.
Ma H. L. Bernstein Pike MC, G. Ursin, “Reproductive factors and breast cancer risk according to joint estrogen and progesterone receptor status: a meta-analysis of epidemiological studies,” Breast Cancer Research Vol. 8, No. 4, R43. [PubMed Abstract] cited in National Cancer Institute (2011). Reproductive History and Breast Cancer Risk. Retrieved on 4th September, 2012, from http://www. cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/reproductive-history2006.
S. Masood, “The current status of breast cancer among resourcelimited countries,” Middle East Journal of Cancer, Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 1-4, 2010.
C. Mayo, “Breast cancer prevention: How to reduce your risk,” Retrieved on, 10th June 2011. from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/breast-cancer-prevention/WO000912010.
C. Miller, “Reseaux et territoires: Migrants de haute Egypte a guizah (Le Caire) In Les competences des citadins dans le monde arabe, isabelle berry-chikhaoui and agnes deboulet,” Paris, Tour, and Tunis: Karthala-Urbama-IRMC, 2000.
National Cancer Institute (2011). Reproductive History and Breast Cancer Risk. Retrieved on 4th September, 2012. from http://www. cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/reproductive- history
National Cancer Institute in Cairo (NCI). Breast cancer. Retrieved on 20th April, 2010, from 2006. http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2006/results_merged/topic_prevalence.pdf
B. Norsa’adah, B. Rusli, A. Imran, I. Naing and T. Winn, “Risk factors of breast cancer in women in Kelantan, Malaysia,” Singapore Medical Journal, Vol. 46, No. 12, pp. 698-705, 2005.
S. Omar, H. Khaled, R. Gaafar, Zekry, R. S. Eissa and O. El-Khatib, “Breast cancer in Egypt: a review of disease presentation and detection strategies,” Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, Vol. 9, No. 3, pp. 448-463, 2003.
P. Parsa and M. Kandiah, “Breast cancer knowledge, perception and breast self-examination practice among Iranian women,” The International Medical Journal, Vol. 4, No. 2, pp. 17-24, 2005.
B. Powe, E. Daniels, R. Finnine and A. Thompson, Perceptions about breast cancer among Iranian women. The International Medical Journal, Vol. 4, No.2, pp. 17-24, 2005.
M. H. Qayed, Egypt: KAP study on reproductive health among adolescents and youth in Assiut governorate, Egypt. Retrieved on 10 th June, 2011, from http://www.fhi.org/NR/rdonlyres/ehfv33os6s55nhiepl7ghmzplgpjdbhsuppnthjdibf f t i c p m q p s 3 t m rhdp5qstmbizapc255dil2k/egypt2s.pdf, 1998.
H. Sangchan, S. Tiansawad, S. Yimyam and T. Wonghongkul, “The development of a culturally sensitive educational programme to increase the perception, self- efficacy and practice of Thai Moslem women regarding breast self-examination (BSE),” Songkla Medical Journal, Vol. 26, No. 1, pp. 15-24, 2008.
M. Sclowitz, A. Menezes, D. Gigante and S. Tessaro, “Breast cancer’s secondary prevention and associated factorsm,” Rev Saude Publica, Vol. 39, No.3, pp. 340-349, 2005.
N. Y. Seif and M. A. Aziz, “Effect of breast self-examination training program on knowledge, attitude and practice of a group of working women,” Journal of the Egyptian anticancer institute, Vol. 12, pp. 105-115, 2000.
D. Singerman and P. Amar, “Cairo cosmopolitan: politics, culture, and urban space in the new globalized Middle East,” Cairo, the American University in Cairo, 2006.
S. E. Singletary, A. N. Atkinson, A. Hoque, N. Sneige, Sahin, and A. H. A. Fritsche, et al,” “Phase II clinical trial of N-(4-Hydroxyphenyl) retinamide and tamoxifen administration before definitive surgery for breast neoplasia,” Clinical Cancer Research, Vol. 8, No.9, pp. 2835-2842, 2002.
P. Stephan, “Breastfeeding Helps Prevent Breast Cancer, Lowers Your Risk,” Retrieved on 4th September, from About.com: h t t p : / / breastcancer.about.com/od/riskfactorsindetail/a/breastfd_prevnt.htm 2012.
S. Tara, C. S. Agrawal and A. Agrawal, “Validating breast self examination as screening modalities for breast cancer in eastern region of Nepal: a population based study,” K a t h m a n d u University Medical Journal (KUMJ), Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 89-93, 2008.
United Nations International Children’s Emergency Foundation (UNICEF). Children in six districts of Upper Egypt a situation analysis. Retrieved on 10thJune,2011,from http://www.unicef.org/sitan/files/Children_in_six_districts_of_Up_Eg ypt.pdf, 2005.
R. Weir, P. Day and W. Ali, “Risk factors for breast cancer in women,” NZHTA Report, Vol. 10, No. 2, Retrieved in 10th June, 2011, from http://nzhta.chmeds.ac.nz/publications/breast_%20cancer07.pdf 2007.
World Health Organization (WHO) Cancer. Retrieved on 20th April http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs297/en/. from 2010.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2012 The Research Publication
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
