PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF BREAST CANCER: AN APPROACH TO DEVELOP NURSING SUPPORT IN SELECTED HOSPITAL IN DHAKA CITY AMONG THE 15-50 AGE GROUP WOMEN IN BANGLADESH

Breast cancer is a disease, which if detected early can be cured; this is now a scientific truth. Because of fear and lack of awareness and knowledge, cancer is mostly not detected at the early stages. General Objective: “To assess the level of awareness on “Prevention and Control of Breast Cancer among the 15-50 age group women” Methods: Cross- sectional descriptive study was utilized during data collection. The study areas was selected purposively from selected hospitals in Dhaka city such as, Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital (SSMCH), National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital (NICRH), Mohakhali, Dhaka,. The settings for this study was the Antenatal, postnatal, Surgical and Medicine Out Patient Department (OPD) at the DMCH, (SSMCH) and NICRH in Dhaka. Data was collected from March to June, 2009 with structured and unstructured questionnaire. Study population was 15-50 age group women. who attended the out Patient Department for their treatment. Total sample size was 330. Among 330 women, 200 women from DMCH, 70 from SSMCH, and 60 from NICRH were included. The mean age of the respondents was 31.03 (± SD 9.50) years. Most (60%) of the respondents were residing in urban areas, 25.26 completed primary school. More than fifty percent (55.20) heard about breast cancer. 73.33% of the respondents had no knowledge about the risk factors of breast cancer. Only 26.67% had the knowledge of the risk factors. The study result showed that all respondents gave multiple answer regarding the knowledge about the best way to prevent and control of breast cancer. It is found from the result that the majority 76.06% women were not aware on prevention and control of breast cancer only 23.94% was aware. 100% were agreed that they need nursing support. Though the sample size was is not large enough but still this finding is important. Further qualitative and quantitative research in this area needs to be directed towards studying the female population in Bangladesh by using unstructured interview methods that may provide more and different information about awareness on breast cancer and its prevention and control, and how much they feel it important in attending the OPDs for their breast checkup.