title: Knowledge of secondary-school female students on breast cancer and breast self-examination in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
abstract: A self-administered questionnaire was given to 6380 female secondary-school students (mean age = 18.1 years) in Jeddah to identify their knowledge of breast cancer and attitude towards breast self-examination (BSE). Knowledge of risk factors and presentation was very low. Over 80% of students failed to answer 50% of the questions correctly. A higher knowledge level was associated with older age, marriage and having children. Also students who had undergone mammography, had been exposed to breast surgery or had a positive family history of breast cancer showed significantly higher knowledge levels. Only 39.6% reported ever hearing of BSE and only 14.4% and 7.1% respectively knew the correct frequency and timing. However, 82.4% had a positive attitude towards learning BSE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Milaat
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016504:Breast Self-Examination; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D020380:Needs Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014930:Women / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology*