The impact of breast cancer early detection education on breast self-examination (BSE) knowledge women of reproductive age

Background: Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among women in Indonesia. The low level of knowledge among women of reproductive age (WRA) regarding breast cancer and the importance of early detection highlights the need for educational interventions such as health education. This study aims to analyze the effect of counseling on early detection of breast cancer on knowledge of Breast Self-Examination (BSE) among women of reproductive age. Methods: This research used a quantitative pre-experimental method with a one-group pretest-posttest design. The population consisted of women of reproductive age in Klitih Hamlet, Randegansari Village, Driyorejo, Gresik. A total sample of 63 respondents was selected using purposive sampling. The data were analyzed descriptively and using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test with the IBM SPSS software. Results: The findings showed that among 63 respondents, the Wilcoxon test yielded p < 0.001 (p < 0.05), indicating a significant difference between knowledge before and after counseling. A total of 61 respondents (96.8%) experienced an increase in knowledge, 2 respondents (3.2%) showed no change, and none showed a decrease. Overall, respondents’ knowledge prior to counseling was in the poor and fair categories, and improved to the good category after counseling. Conclusion: Counseling on early detection of breast cancer significantly improved the knowledge of women of reproductive age regarding how to perform BSE. Continuous health education is essential to enhance awareness and early detection capabilities for breast cancer within the community.