Author(s)

Florent Ymele Fouelifack^1,2,3*, Rene Pierre Binyom⁴, Anyimbi Mosman Ofeh¹, Jeanne Hortence Fouedjio^2,5, Robinson Enow Mbu^2,5

¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Higher Institute of Medical Technology of Nkolondom, Yaounde, Cameroon.
²Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit of Yaounde Central Hospital, Yaounde, Cameroon.
³Research, Education and Health Associative Group GARES-Falaise, Dschang, Cameroon.
⁴Department of Surgery, Higher Institute of Medical Technology of Nkolondom, Yaounde, Cameroon.
⁵Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon.

Breast cancer is a major health problem in the world. It is the most common cancer in women and is equally the leading cause of cancer death in women. Though in controversy Breast self-examination (BSE) remains a useful tool in early diagnosis of breast cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practice of BSE amongst women in Yaoundé and Monatele. We carried out a cross sectional study in two communities of Cameron over a period of eight months, targeting females older than 15 years. After obtaining authorization, we randomly interviewed 402 consenting participants, using a pretested questionnaire. Data were entered using CS Pro 7.3 and analysed using SPSS 23. Of a total of 402 participants, 256 (63.7%) in Monatele and 146 (36.3%) in Yaoundé VI, the mean age was 26.55 ± 9.57 years. Exactly 50% (201) had earlier heard of BSE. Health personnel and media represented the main sources of information on BSE. Of the total, 46 (11.4%) knew BSE should be done monthly. Fifty-three percent had poor knowledge and 51.0% had a generally low attitude towards BSE. Out of 402 participants, 65.2% reported not practicing BSE. For those practicing, 71.6% had poor practices. The main reason for not practicing was lack of knowledge. Poor knowledge increased poor practice. In conclusion half of the women had heard about BSE even though the majority had a poor knowledge on BSE and very low overall attitude and practice. Health personnel and media played a key role in passing of information. Increasing the number of health campaigns, multiplying TV shows and health talks about breast self-examination will improve knowledge and hence attitude and practice.

Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, Breast, Self-Examination

Fouelifack, F. , Binyom, R. , Ofeh, A. , Fouedjio, J. and Mbu, R. (2021) Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Breast Self-Examination amongst Women in Two Communities of Cameroon. Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 11, 773-793. doi: 10.4236/ojog.2021.116072.