Breast Self Examination: Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice among Sample of Jordanian Females

In the past 30 years, breast cancer incidence has been through a dramatic increase of 50-100 %, which strongly supports the need for breast cancer prevention and screening programs. The purpose of this study is to identify and investigate the knowledge and practice of breast self-examination (BSE) and observing factors that may influence the compliance of (BSE) among a sample of Jordanian students who have family history of breast cancer. the study was conducted among different groups of secondary school female students as well as university female students (total 178). A form of 12 questions distributed to the involved students containing items on the demographic characteristics of the respondents, knowledge of breast cancer, attitude toward (BSE) and its practice. The results of the study indicate that only 50 % of the sample performs (BSE). Most of the students agree on the responsibility of society as a whole to participate in (BSE) to raise the awareness for breast cancer. Participants also showed strong belief in breast lump as a causative factor of breast cancer and it having a significant correlation to identification via (BSE) practice. We aim to enhance the knowledge about breast cancer and encourage (BSE) and breast cancer prevention programs among female students and women as whole.