Practice of breast self examination among health care professionals at one selected referral Hospital in Rwanda

Abstract

Background: In 2012, 1.7 million of females were detected to have breast cancer around the world, and globally the survival from breast cancer for five years numbered 6.3million. Incidence still remains high in many advanced countries; mortality rate is very high in the developing countries due to the absence of early screening mechanisms and the absence of better management of Breast cancers cases. Aim: This study explored practice of Breast self-Examination among Health care professionals at Rwanda Military Hospital. Methods: Non experimental research design using quantitative approach has been used to answer the research questions. A random sampling strategy was used to select a sample of 184 healthcare professionals (nurses, midwives and physicians) after their consent to participate. Data were collected using a questionnaire as a tool and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics by using SPSS version 21. Results:A total of 184 respondents participated in the study, the findings of the study show that the practice of healthcare professionals was low accounting for 42.4%however most of them had a positive perceptions about BSE. This study revealed that respondents who reported early detection of breast cancer were two times more likely to practice breast selfexamination than who did not report it (OR=2.085, CI= 1.033-4.209, P=0.040). Among those who reported fear of breast cancer were more than two times more likely to practice breast self- examination than those who do not fear of cancer. Always postponing have a 53.9% reduction in the odd of practicing breast self- examination relative to those who do not postpone (OR=0.461, CI= 0.229-0. 930, P=0.031). Conclusion: There is a very urgent need for regular update and professional continuous education for healthcare professionals concerning the importance of breast self-examination and procedures allowing them to perform it regularly.