Abstract 63: Knowledge and Practice of Breast Self-Examination Among Patients in Tanzania: Preliminary Findings

Abstract Purpose: Breast cancer (BC) is the second most common cancer among women in Tanzania, while also affecting men. The main cause of high BC mortality is a lack of awareness and breast self-examination (BSE), resulting in patients presenting for diagnosis and treatment at an advanced disease stage. Therefore, this study aimed to understand to what extent knowledge of BC symptoms and risk factors were associated with BSE. In addition, perceived barriers to early detection and treatment were examined. Methods: A cross-sectional survey questionnaire study was conducted at cancer care centre in the Kilimanjaro region. Quantitative data was collected from 219 BC patients (193 female), aged 20–86 years (M = 56.3, SD = 12.9) about knowledge of signs and symptoms, risk factors, and BSE. Descriptive and inductive statistical analyses were performed to examine associations between knowledge factors and BSE. Results: Descriptive results showed limited BC knowledge among respondents. Correlations between 4 out of 6 knowledge factors and BSE were significant; these ranged from r = .16 (p < .05) for knowing how to perform BSE to r = .26, p < .01) for knowledge of risk factors. Knowledge of signs and symptoms was not correlated to BSE, whereas in the regression analysis, this association was negative (B = −0.7, p < .05), in contrast to expectations. Other significant predictors in the full regression model were knowledge of risk factors (B = .06, p < .05); knowing how often to perform BSE (B = 0.12, p = .01); and knowing how the breasts normally look and feel (B = 0.20, p < .05). As for demographics, males were less likely to perform BSE than females (B = 0.75, p < .001), and BSE performance decreased with age (B = −0.1, p < .05). Conclusion: The study exhibited limited knowledge of breast cancer and breast self-examination (BSE). As knowledge of signs and symptoms was inversely related to BSE, and awareness of risk factors showed a weak link, educational initiatives should focus on teaching the correct method and frequency of BSE, while promoting practice to help individuals recognize the normal look and feel of their breasts. Citation Format: Elizabeth Francis Msoka, Bob Mulder, Frank B. Bright, Baraka Moshi, Autumn Beavers, Modesta Mitao, Gileard G. Masenga, Alem Gebremariam, Eva J. Kantelhardt, Maureen Joffe, Blandina T. Mmbaga. Knowledge and Practice of Breast Self-Examination Among Patients in Tanzania: Preliminary Findings [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 13th Annual Symposium on Global Cancer Research; 2025 Sep 16. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2025;34(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 63.