A Comparative Study to Assess the Knowledge Regarding Breast Self-Examination among Urban and Rural Women in Selected Hospitals at Amritsar, in a View to Develop an Information Booklet

Abstract

Breast self-examination (BSE) involves feeling one’s breast in a specific manner at the same time every month and recognize suspicious lumps from normal lumps and bumps. A world based study showed that the overall performance of BSE was quite low with only 15 % women reporting a once a month performance while 23% reported performing BSE irregularly. Cancer is a Pan societal problem that affects 2/3 of the world’s population. Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer diagnosed among women, both in the developing and developed countries. It is known to be the 2nd leading cause of death in women worldwide with nearly 1 out of 8 women developing breast cancer all over the world. The present study was non experimental study to assess and compare the knowledge regarding breast self-examination among urban and rural women in selected hospitals at Amritsar, with the help of questionnaire which consist of 30 questions. The samples were drawn using probability sampling method that includes simple random sampling technique. The result indicates that 6% urban women having inadequate knowledge, 48% urban women having moderate knowledge and 46% urban women having adequate knowledge regarding breast self-examination. The data shows that for the urban women obtained range; maximum score, mean, standard deviation, and mean percentage of knowledge questionnaire were 11–20, 30, 19.8, ±4.8 and 66%, respectively. The result indicate that 16% rural women having inadequate knowledge, 76% rural women having moderate knowledge and 8% rural women having adequate knowledge regarding breast self-examination. The data shows that for the rural women obtained range, maximum score, mean, standard deviation, and mean percentage of knowledge questionnaire were 11–20, 30, 14.76, ±4.5 and 49.2% respectively. The result indicate that the overall urban women mean knowledge score found to be 19.8with SD ±4.8 as compared to overall rural women mean knowledge score noticed as 14.76 with SD ±4.5. The data subjected for statistical unpaired t-test showed a highly significant difference (p<0.05) existing between urban and rural women over all mean knowledge score (t=5.36). In relation to urban samples Chi-square test result depicts the significant impact of occupation, education and marital status on the knowledge score of urban women on breast self-examination. In relation to rural samples Chi-square test result depicts the significant impact of occupation, education and marital status on the knowledge score of rural women on breast self-examination. It indicates that urban women have more knowledge regarding breast self-examination.