Knowledge attitude and practice of breast cancer examination among women attending a health facility in Gaborone, Botswana

Screening for early detection and diagnosis of diseases and health conditions is an important public health principle. Breast cancer examination is whereby a woman will examine the breast by Breast Self Examination (BSE), Clinical Breast Examination (CBE), and Mammogram. The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of breast cancer examination. An interviewer administered questionnaire was administered to 375 women attending a health facility in Gaborone, Botswana. Results indicate low knowledge of breast cancer examination, e.g. only 34.1% knew about the commonest presentation of breast cancer (painless breast lump). Although participants had a positive attitude towards breast cancer examination, only few (23.5%) of those who practiced breast self examination (63.5%) (BSE), practiced monthly as required. Similarly, only 22.7% had visited a doctor for clinical breast examination (CBE) in the past year, and 1.6% of the respondents had done mammogram in the past 2 years. There was no association between socio-demographic characteristics with the knowledge attitude and practice of breast cancer examination. The results of this study reflect an urgent need for increasing breast cancer education for these women.