[01] Marwan Jalambo, Nutrition Sciences and Public Health Program, Palestine Technical College, Deir Al-Balah, Palestine. [02] Basil Kanoa, Primary Health Care, Ministry of Health, Gaza, Palestine. [03] Mueen Kareri, Primary Health Care, Ministry of Health, Gaza, Palestine. [04] Samaher Younis, Primary Health Care, Ministry of Health, Gaza, Palestine. [05] Sujod Aljazzar, Nutrition Sciences and Public Health Program, Palestine Technical College, Deir Al-Balah, Palestine. [06] Mohammed Ellulu, Faculty of Applied and Medical Sciences, Al-Azhar University, Gaza, Palestine.

Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer among women, impacting 2 million women annually, and also causes the highest number of cancer-related deaths among women. This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding breast cancer. A cross-sectional study was conducted at primary health care centers during the period of March and April 2018 among 346 women in the Gaza Strip. A self-administered questionnaire was used to investigate demographic and socio-economic status, knowledge of breast cancer, attitudes towards breast examination and practices of breast self-examination. Statistical analysis was carried out using descriptive SPSS version 24. Study findings have shown that 96% of the respondents heard about BSE, 56.6% had good overall knowledge towards breast cancer, BSE and mammography, 62.3% of participants had positive attitude towards BSE, 28.9% practice BSE in a right manner and correct time, 36.4% checked physically by healthcare providers and 29.5% checked by mammogram. There was a significant difference between age and job towards overall knowledge. And a significant difference between age, job and region toward attitude. Similarly, there was a significant difference between the practice of BSE with checking physically by healthcare providers and checking by the mammogram. Also, differences between checking physically by healthcare providers and checking by the mammogram. The study concluded most females had poor overall knowledge and did not perform BSE regularly but the attitude toward BSE was satisfied. Educational intervention programs should be applied to improve the knowledge of breast cancer and early diagnosis of it.

Breast Cancer, Self-examination, Knowledge, Attitude, Practices, Women, Gaza Strip

[01] Ferlay, J. and M. Colombet, Estimating the global cancer incidence and mortality in 2018: GLOBOCAN sources and methods. International journal of cancer, 2019. 144 (8): p. 1941-1953. [02] Park, B., et al., Correlation of breast cancer incidence with the number of motor vehicles and consumption of gasoline in Korea. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 2014. 15 (7): p. 2959-2964. [03] WHO, Breast cancer: Early diagnosis and screening. https://www.who.int/cancer/prevention/diagnosis-screening/breast-cancer/en/#. 2018. [04] MoH, Health Annual Report Palestine 2018. [05] American. Cancer. Society, Breast cancer facts and figures 2013–2014. http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/@research/documents/ document/acspc-042725.pdf. American Cancer Society journal 2014. [06] Nemenqani, D. M. and Abdelmaqsoud, Knowledge, attitude and practice of breast self examination and breast cancer among female medical students in Taif, Saudi Arabia. Open Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2014. 4 (02): p. 69. [07] Nde, F. P. and J. Assob, Knowledge, attitude and practice of breast self-examination among female undergraduate students in the University of Buea. BMC research notes, 2015. 8 (1): p. 43. [08] Leung, J. and S. McKenzie, Longitudinal patterns of breast cancer screening: mammography, clinical, and breast self-examinations in a rural and urban setting. Women's Health Issues, 2014. 24 (1): p. e139-e146. [09] WHO, Breast cancer: prevention and control. http://www.who.int/cancer/detection/breastcancer/en/. 2018. [10] TORAMAN, A. and A. OKSAY, An Examination on the Knowledge Level of Breast Self-Examination of the Patients Who Apply to a University Hospital. Hacettepe Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi, 2019. 6 (2): p. 82-94. [11] Sehrawat, J. S. and S. Mor, Knowledge, beliefs and practices about breast cancer and its self examination procedure among urban and rural women of district Gurdaspur, Punjab, India: a cross sectional study. Int J Community Med Public Health, 2017. 4 (1): p. 120-128. [12] Segni, M., et al., Breast self-examination: knowledge, attitude, and practice among female health science students at Adama Science and Technology University, Ethiopia. Gynecol Obstet (Sunnyvale), 2016. 6 (368): p. 2161-0932. [13] Akram, M., et al., Awareness and current knowledge of breast cancer. 2017. 50 (1): p. 33. [14] Doumit, M. A., S. Fares, and M. Arevian, Knowledge, practices, and attitudes of women toward breast cancer in Lebanon. American Journal of Hematology/Oncology®, 2017. 13 (7). [15] Ahmad, B., et al., Knowledge, Awareness, and Practice of Breast Self-Examination Among An-Najah National University Female Students. 2017. [16] Ahmed, A., et al., Breast self-examination awareness and practices in young women in developing countries: A survey of female students in Karachi, Pakistan. Journal of education and health promotion, 2018. 7. [17] Gangane, N., N. Ng, and M. S. Sebastian, Women's knowledge, attitudes, and practices about breast cancer in a rural district of Central India. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 2015. 16 (16): p. 6863-6870. [18] Sama, C.-B., et al., Awareness of breast cancer and breast self-examination among female undergraduate students in a higher teachers training college in Cameroon. Pan African Medical Journal, 2017. 28 (1): p. 164. [19] Aydogan, U., et al., Predictors of knowledge level and awareness towards breast cancer among Turkish females. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2015. 16 (1): p. 275-282. [20] Ayed, A., et al., Breast Self-Examination in Terms of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice among Nursing Students of Arab American University/Jenin. Journal of Education and Practice, 2015. 6 (4): p. 37-47. [21] Birhane, K., et al., Practices of breast self-examination and associated factors among female debre berhan university students. International journal of breast cancer, 2017. [22] Birhane, N., et al., Predictors of breast self-examination among female teachers in Ethiopia using health belief model. Archives of Public Health, 2015. 73 (1): p. 39. [23] Akhtari-Zavare, M., et al., Barriers to breast self examination practice among Malaysian female students: a cross sectional study. SpringerPlus, 2015. 4 (1): p. 692. [24] Kotepui, M., et al., Knowledge, attitudes and practice of breast cancer screening among female personnel of W alailak U niversity. Health Expectations, 2015. 18 (6): p. 3069-3078. [25] Deniz, S., et al., Knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of women regarding breast and cervical cancer in Malatya, Turkey. PloS one, 2017. 12 (11): p. e0188571. [26] Marzouni, H. Z., et al., Women's awareness and attitude toward breast self-examination in dezful city, Iran, 2013. Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal, 2015. 17 (1). [27] Alsaraireh, A. and M. W. Darawad, Breast cancer awareness, attitude and practices among female university students: A descriptive study from Jordan. Health care for women international, 2018. 39 (5): p. 571-583. [28] Siddharth, R., et al., Knowledge, attitude and practice about breast cancer and breast self-examination among women seeking out-patient care in a teaching hospital in central India. Indian journal of cancer, 2016. 53 (2): p. 226. [29] Abda, N., et al., Knowledge, attitudes, and preventive practice towards breast cancer among general practitioner health professionals in Morocco. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention: APJCP, 2017. 18 (4): p. 963. [30] Zine, K., et al. [Awareness of breast cancer screening among general practitioners in Mohammedia (Morocco)]. The Pan African Medical Journal, 2016. 24, 243 DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2016.24.243.9627.