KNOWLEDGE OF BREAST CANCER AND BREAST CANCER SCREENING AMONG WOMEN OF CHILD BEARING AGE AT SHEHU SULE COLLEGE OF NURSING AND MIDWIFERY, YOBE STATE

ABSTRACT TITLE: Knowledge of Breast Cancer and Breast Cancer Screening Among Women of Child Bearing Age at Shehu Sule College of Nursing and Midwifery, Yobe State. OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude and perception on breast cancer screening among women of child bearing age at Shehu Sule College of Nursing and Midwifery, Damaturu, Yobe State. METHOD: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out among 153 female students at college by using a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire was divided into four domains: Socio-demographic characteristics; participant’s knowledge of breast cancer and breast cancer screening; their attitude toward breast cancer screening; their perception toward breast cancer. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 26.0 software. RESULTS: 153 participants responded to the questionnaire where most of them (61.4%) were within the age 20-24years and single (88.2%). The study showed that majority of the participants had moderate knowledge of breast cancer. The major source of information about breast was health workers (53.6%) with 61.4% agreed that positive family history was the risk factor for breast cancer. Majority of the participants had moderate knowledge of the methods of screening of breast cancer with excellent knowledge of breast self-examination. Most of the participants have positive perception toward breast screening. CONCLUSION: The study shows that there is good level of awareness of breast cancer and breast cancer screening among the respondents but adequate knowledge about the cancer was lacking, however, comparatively small number remain ignorant of breast cancer with few thinking is a punishment from God. Therefore there is need for more awareness on breast and screening methods.