title: Knowledge and Beliefs of Breast Self-Examination and Breast Cancer among Market Women in Ibadan, South West, Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In most resource constrained settings like Nigeria, breast self-examination self-breast examination (BSE) is culturally acceptable, religious friendly and attracts no cost. Women's knowledge and beliefs about breast cancer and its management may contribute significantly to medical help-seeking behaviours. This study aimed to assess knowledge and beliefs of BSE among market women.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 603 market women in Ibadan, Nigeria. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews and analyzed using descriptive and analytic statistical methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the respondents was 34.6±9.3 years with 40% of the women aged between 30-39years. The proportion of married women was 339 (68.5%) with 425 (70.8%) respondents reporting that they do not know how to perform BSE. However, 372 (61.7%) women strongly agreed that BSE is a method of screening for breast cancer. Highest proportion 219 (36.3%) reported that the best time for a woman to perform BSE was 'anytime'. Most of the respondents believed breast cancer is a dangerous disease that kills fast and requires a lot of money for treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More efforts are needed in creating awareness and advocacy campaigns in the grassroots in order to detect early breast cancer and enhance prevention strategies that would reduce the burden of breast cancer in Nigeria.
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Public Health Medicine, College of Health Science, Howard College Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.|Center for Community Healthcare, Research and Development, Abuja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Kelechi Elizabeth
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Oladimeji
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Public Health Medicine, College of Health Science, Howard College Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
authors.forename: Joyce M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Tsoka-Gwegweni
authors.affiliation: Center for Community Healthcare, Research and Development, Abuja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Franklin C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Igbodekwe
authors.affiliation: Health and Social Care Department, Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6BJ, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Twomey
authors.affiliation: Population Services International, 1120 19th Street, N.W, Suite 600, Washington, District of Columbia, 20036, United States of America.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Akolo
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Human Services, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Hadiza Sabuwa
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Balarabe
authors.affiliation: Center for Community Healthcare, Research and Development, Abuja, Nigeria.|Department of Psychiatry, Lagos State University, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Olayinka
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Atilola
authors.affiliation: Milken Institute of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, 20052, United State of America.
authors.forename: Oluwole
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Jegede
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Public Health Medicine, College of Health Science, Howard College Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.|Center for Community Healthcare, Research and Development, Abuja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Olanrewaju
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Oladimeji
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016504:Breast Self-Examination; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D055815:Young Adult