Volume 26, Issue 127, September 2022

Breast cancer knowledge and awareness among adolescent girls in secondary schools in Kota Bharu, Malaysia

Bachok Norsa’adah^1♦, Che Jaafar Siti-Faza-Ayunnie², Wan Halim Wan-Noor-Syafawati²

¹Unit of Biostatistics and Research Methodology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia
²Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences, Universiti Teknologi Mara, Kampus Kota Bharu, Jalan Sultan Ibrahim, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia

^♦Corresponding author
Professor Dr Norsa’adah Bachok, MBBS, MCom Med, PhD. Unit of Biostatistics and Research Methodology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia

ABSTRACT

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer death among women of all ethnicities in Malaysia. The adolescent period is a time when educational opportunities are provided to shape healthy behavior in a woman’s life. Exposing teens to breast cancer and its screening test will create breast awareness and encourage positive behavior towards preventions later in adulthood. Aim: This study aimed to determine the level of knowledge and awareness of breast cancer and associated factors among secondary school adolescent girls. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 16-year girls in five secondary schools in Kota Bharu. A structured, validated, and self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 359 female students who were selected using multi-stage cluster sampling. The content of the questionnaires included risk factors, symptoms, and screening tests for breast cancer. Data were analyzed by using multiple logistic regressions. Results: Most respondents have heard of breast cancer. The percentages of respondents who scored ≥60% in knowledge of risk factors, symptoms, and cancer screening were 32.9%, 52.6% and 69.6%, respectively. Maternal education was significantly associated with knowledge of risk factors, symptoms, and screening of breast cancer. The school was significantly associated with risk factors and family history of breast cancer was significantly associated with symptoms. Conclusions: This study found that there are areas for improvement in knowledge and awareness of breast cancer and mothers’ education was the significantly associated factor for all types of knowledge. Breast cancer awareness campaigns and education are highly recommended at school.

Keywords: Knowledge, awareness, breast cancer, adolescents, school children

Medical Science, 2022, 26, ms379e2360

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi/v26i127/ms379e2360

Published: 23 September 2022