The Associated Health Knowledge and Vulnerability to Breast Self-examination Behavior Among Women in Bengkulu, Indonesia

Introduction: Based on the data provided by the World Health Organization (WHO), it is projected that in the year 2021, there would be a total of 2.3 million cases of breast cancer diagnosed among women worldwide, resulting in approximately 685,000 fatalities. Breast self-examination represents a screening modality that can be conducted at an early stage. Breast self-examination refers to a diagnostic procedure in which a woman conducts a thorough examination of her own breasts, employing visual observation and manual palpation to identify the presence of any abnormal masses or indications of breast cancer. Materials and methods: This study employed an analytic survey approach with a cross-sectional design. The sample consisted only of women between the ages of 26 and 35 in Bengkulu city. The sampling technique employed was stratified sampling. Results: Through univariate analysis, it was shown that among the 382 participants, 226 (59.2%) exhibited a lack of health awareness, while 209 (54.7%) displayed low vulnerability. The bivariate analysis revealed a noteworthy correlation between women's health knowledge and their susceptibility to engaging in breast self-examination behavior. Conclusion: Breast self-examination is an effective method for detecting early changes in the breast. Having a good understanding of this procedure can influence individuals' behavior in performing regular breast examinations. However, there is currently a lack of awareness among women regarding breast cancer. Therefore, it is imperative to take proactive measures to enhance knowledge through Health Education initiatives