Knowledge of female undergraduate students on breast cancer and breast self-examination in Klang Valley, Malaysia
BACKGROUND: In Malaysia, breast cancer is the first cancer among females regardness of race. AIM: The purpose of this study was to identify the knowledge and BSE practice among undergraduate female students at four public universities in Klang Valley, Malaysia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Published: |
Medknow Publications and Media
2015
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| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/34332/ |
| _version_ | 1848847742208573440 |
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| author | Akhtari-Zavare, Mehrnoosh Abd Latiff, Latiffah Juni, Muhamad Hanafiah Md Said, Salmiah Ismail, Irmi Zarina |
| author_facet | Akhtari-Zavare, Mehrnoosh Abd Latiff, Latiffah Juni, Muhamad Hanafiah Md Said, Salmiah Ismail, Irmi Zarina |
| author_sort | Akhtari-Zavare, Mehrnoosh |
| building | UPM Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | BACKGROUND:
In Malaysia, breast cancer is the first cancer among females regardness of race.
AIM:
The purpose of this study was to identify the knowledge and BSE practice among undergraduate female students at four public universities in Klang Valley, Malaysia.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
This cross-sectional study was conducted among 820 undergraduate female students using a self-administered questionnaire covering socio-demographic data, knowledge of breast cancer and BSE practice.
RESULTS:
The mean age of the respondents was 21.7±1.2 years. The majority of them were single (96.8%), Malay (91.9%) and 16.5% of respondents had a family history of breast cancer. This study showed low level of knowledge on breast cancer and breast self-examination among participants. Only 19.6% participants were performing BSE regularly. Knowledge of breast self-examination was significantly associated with BSE practice (p=0.00). Also, there were significant associations between performing BSE with age, marital status and being trained by a doctor for doing BSE (p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS:
Our findings showed that the rate of BSE practice and knowledge of breast cancer is inadequate among young Malaysian females. A public health education program is essential to improve breast cancer prevention among this group. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-15T09:23:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | upm-34332 |
| institution | Universiti Putra Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-15T09:23:26Z |
| publishDate | 2015 |
| publisher | Medknow Publications and Media |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | upm-343322015-12-10T06:22:26Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/34332/ Knowledge of female undergraduate students on breast cancer and breast self-examination in Klang Valley, Malaysia Akhtari-Zavare, Mehrnoosh Abd Latiff, Latiffah Juni, Muhamad Hanafiah Md Said, Salmiah Ismail, Irmi Zarina BACKGROUND: In Malaysia, breast cancer is the first cancer among females regardness of race. AIM: The purpose of this study was to identify the knowledge and BSE practice among undergraduate female students at four public universities in Klang Valley, Malaysia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 820 undergraduate female students using a self-administered questionnaire covering socio-demographic data, knowledge of breast cancer and BSE practice. RESULTS: The mean age of the respondents was 21.7±1.2 years. The majority of them were single (96.8%), Malay (91.9%) and 16.5% of respondents had a family history of breast cancer. This study showed low level of knowledge on breast cancer and breast self-examination among participants. Only 19.6% participants were performing BSE regularly. Knowledge of breast self-examination was significantly associated with BSE practice (p=0.00). Also, there were significant associations between performing BSE with age, marital status and being trained by a doctor for doing BSE (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed that the rate of BSE practice and knowledge of breast cancer is inadequate among young Malaysian females. A public health education program is essential to improve breast cancer prevention among this group. Medknow Publications and Media 2015 Article PeerReviewed Akhtari-Zavare, Mehrnoosh and Abd Latiff, Latiffah and Juni, Muhamad Hanafiah and Md Said, Salmiah and Ismail, Irmi Zarina (2015) Knowledge of female undergraduate students on breast cancer and breast self-examination in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Annals of Saudi Medicine, 16 (15). 6231-6235 . ISSN 0256-4947; ESSN: 0975-4466 http://www.apocpcontrol.org/page/apjcp_issues_view.php?sid=Entrez:PubMed&id=pmid:26434821&key=2015.16.15.6231 10.7314/APJCP.2015.16.15.6231 |
| spellingShingle | Akhtari-Zavare, Mehrnoosh Abd Latiff, Latiffah Juni, Muhamad Hanafiah Md Said, Salmiah Ismail, Irmi Zarina Knowledge of female undergraduate students on breast cancer and breast self-examination in Klang Valley, Malaysia |
| title | Knowledge of female undergraduate students on breast cancer and breast self-examination in Klang Valley, Malaysia |
| title_full | Knowledge of female undergraduate students on breast cancer and breast self-examination in Klang Valley, Malaysia |
| title_fullStr | Knowledge of female undergraduate students on breast cancer and breast self-examination in Klang Valley, Malaysia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Knowledge of female undergraduate students on breast cancer and breast self-examination in Klang Valley, Malaysia |
| title_short | Knowledge of female undergraduate students on breast cancer and breast self-examination in Klang Valley, Malaysia |
| title_sort | knowledge of female undergraduate students on breast cancer and breast self-examination in klang valley, malaysia |
| url | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/34332/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/34332/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/34332/ |