INTRODUCTION:

Breast cancer is the most common cancer, According to 2011, an estimated 26,840 new cases of breast cancer and 6,040 deaths are expected to occur among African American women. A recent landmark analysis by Indian council of medical research had pointed out a similar trend in India. ICMR analyzed cancer case in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Bangalore between 1995 and 2010 and found incidence of breast cancer had doubled. While Bangalore saw breast cancer cases more than double 15.8 in a population of one lakh in 1995 to 32.2 in 2011. To reduce the incidence of breast cancer significantly, Breast self examination is the effective diagnostic method (Susan, 2006).

A study conducted to assess the knowledge of breast self examination among women, 49.4% performed BSE learned it from medical personnel, their relatives, T.V, books, journals and phamphlets. Punar. E. Dunder (2006)

METHODS:

A descriptive research design was used (Polit and Beck, 2004). The setting of the study was women residing in Allinayakkanpalyam village, Nammakkal. 30 samples were selected through convenient sampling technique. The data was obtained by using a demographic variables and checklist. Samples were selected based on the inclusion criteria such as women of age group above 25 years, who have given consent to participate in the study, able to understand Tamil and people with cognitive changes like mental illness, disorientation and unable to communicate were excluded from the research work. The checklist was developed to assess the knowledge of the people. It consists of 15 items with yes or no response. Based on the percentage of scores, the level of knowledge of breast self examination was graded into three categories as poor, average and good. Analysis was done by using mean, standard deviation and chi square test.

RESULTS:

Results shows that higher 50% were in the age group of 35 to 50,100 % of them were Hindu religion, 80% of them were in nuclear family, 34% of them had primary education 100% of them were married. Majority 88% had moderate knowledge about breast self examination the mean score of respondents about 88% of women had average knowledge and 6% of the women had good knowledge.

TABLE 1 :Frequency and percentage distribution of samples according to their demographic variables (n=30).

S.No

Demographic variables

Frequency (n)

Percentage (%)

Age in years

a) 20-35

b) 35-50

c)Above 50

Religion

a) Hindu

b) Christian

c)Muslim

100

Education

a)Primary

b)Higher secondry

c)Degree

Type of family

a) Nuclear

b) Joint

Marital status

a) Married

b) unmarried

100

Previous history

a) Yes

b) No

100%

Distribution of samples according to their depicts that 16% of the women were in the age group 25-35 and 50 % were in 35-50 and 34% were above 50 years. According to religion 100% were hindus distribution of samples according. to education 34% of the women had primary education, 40% of the women had secondry education 23% of them had 23% Distribution of samples according to their type of family shos 80% of them were in join family.

TABLE 2:Chi-square value association between their demographic variables and knowledge of respondents on breast self examination.

Demographic variables	Chi square value	Table value	Level of significance
Age in years	3.63	9.49	P > 0.05 Not significant
Religion	0	9.49	P > 0.05 Not significant
Educational	13.6	12.5	P > 0.05 Not significant
Type of family	3.2	5.99	P > 0.05 Not significant
Marital status	0	9.49	P > 0.05 Not significant
Previous history	0	9.49	P > 0.05 Not significant

P > 0.05 No Significant P < 0.05 Significant

Chi-square was calculated to find out the association between demographic variables and knowledge of breast self examination among women. It reveals that there was no significant association when compared to age, education and marital status, family type and religion. (P > 0.05).

DISCUSSION:

Results shows that higher 50% were in the age group of 35 to 50,100 % of them were Hindu religion, 80% of them were in nuclear family ,100% of them were married. Majority 88% had moderate knowledge about breast self examination. A similar study was conducted to assess the value of breast self examination, among 76.6% of the women 56.1% of them had sufficient knowledge of breast cancer. Breast Self examination performers among the study group were the women who exhibited higher self confidence and perceived greater benefits. The replication of the present study can be conducted with larger samples, and comparative study between rural and urban mothers regarding breast self examination.

REFERENCE:

1. Althuis MD, Dozier JM, Anderson WF, Devesa SS, Brinton LA. (2005) Global trends in breast cancer incidence and mortality.

2. Shibuya K, Mathers CD, Boschi-Pinto C, Lopez AD, Murray CJ.(2000) Global and regional estimates of cancer mortality and incidence.

3. GN, de la Garza Salazar J, Pritchard K, Amadori D, Haidinger R, Hudis CA, et al. (2005) The global breast cancer burden: Variations in epidemiology and survival.

4. GLOBOCAN (2008) (IARC) Section of Cancer Information.

5. Raina V, Bhutani M, Bedi R, Sharma A, Deo SV, Shukla NK, et al. (2005) Clinical features and prognostic factors of early breast cancer at a major cancer center in North India. Indian J Cancer.

6. Tasci A, Usta YY(2011). Comparison of Knowledge and Practices of Breast Self Examination (BSE).

Received on 03.07.2015 Modified on 27.07.2015

Int. J. Adv. Nur. Management 3(4): Oct. - Dec. 2015; Page 355-356

DOI: 10.5958/2454-2652.2015.00032.3