ABSTRACT
The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the attitude of the female undergraduate students of Benson Idahosa University towards breast self examination, if they practice it, how often and strategies that can be adopted to curb unfavorable attitudes towards breast self examination. The questionnaire were the instrument for data collection, the population consisted of 100 female undergraduate students residing in Benson Idahosa University hostels. The data collected were analyzed using frequency counts and percentage to indicate the level of responses. It was gathered that students attitudes towards Breast self examination was positive and the strategies provided to curb unfavorable attitude towards breast self examination was accepted. Lastly, conclusion, It is evident that from the findings, majority of the students of BIU know how to perform breast self examination and they do it confidently while some others are not sure of the appropriate steps to follow in performing BSE. It was also evident that the tendency of the students performing breast self examination (BSE) at the required time is very low and their reasons could be as a result of not knowing how to do it, ignorance, lack of interest, the study also made recommendations inform of strategies to curb unfavorable attitudes towards breast self examination
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Breast Self-Examination (BSE) is a technique in which a lady examines her own breasts by seeing and feeling with fingers to detect breast lump. The purpose of breast self-examination is to increase familiarity with breast, to detect presence of lump in the breast at an early stage and to look for any abnormal changes in the breast Deaton, J.G. (1988). Self examination of the breast each month between the 7th and 10th day of the menstrual cycle is the simplest yet extremely important way to detect breast cancer at the early stage of growth Abudu, E.K et al., (2007). The BSE technique involves palpation of the breasts for lump with the tips of the fingers, rather than the flat of the hand. The woman would be in the erect position, either sitting or standing and while lying down. It has been observed that women can detect 95% of breast cancers and 65% of early minimal breast cancers through BSE Brunar, L.S. and Suddarth, D.S. (1988). Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer death among women worldwide Bray, F., Mac Carron, P. and Parkin, M. (2004). Globally, it has been reported that breast cancer ranks as the fifth cause of death from cancer overall, although still the leading cause of cancer mortality in women (the 411,000 annual deaths represent 14% of female cancer deaths) Parkin, D.M et al., (2005). The WHO estimated that 1.2 million cases of breast cancer are diagnosed worldwide each year which represented 10% of all diagnosed cancers and constituted 22% of all new cases in women in 2000 making it by far the most common cancer in women Anderson, B.O., Braun, S., Lim, S., Robert, A., Taplin, S.S., et al. (2003). In Nigeria, breast cancer has been reported as the most common cancer in women and the second leading cause of death Adebamowo, C.A. et al., (2000).. Late presentation of patients at advanced stages of when little or no benefit can be derived from any form of therapy is the hallmark of breast cancer in Nigerian women Okobia, M.N et al., (2006).
