Abstract
Background: Breast cancer is the most common invasive cancer affecting women worldwide. It comprises 22.9% of invasive cancers in women and 16% of all female cancers. It affects about 12% of the women population worldwide. In Nigeria, about one breast cancer death is reported in every 25 cases identified and the practice of breast self-examination has been reported to range from 19% to 43.2%. This cross sectional study assessed the knowledge, attitude and practice of breast self-examination (BSE) among female secondary school students in Osogbo Metropolis.
 Methods: A total of 400 respondents were selected using multistage sampling technique. Data were collected using pre-tested self-administered semi structured questionnaire, analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences and presented using appropriate tables and charts. Level of significance set at < 0.05.
 Results: The mean age ± SD is 14.77 ± 1.46 years. 390 (97.5%) respondents reported that they have heard of breast cancer while 235 (58.8%) respondents stated that they have heard of breast self-examination (BSE). 15 (3.8%) respondents said the procedures is time wasting while 82 (20.5%) respondents said the procedures were strenuous. 199 (49.8%) strongly disagree that performing breast self-examination may expose them to breast cancer. Individuals with poor knowledge are one time less likely to do breast self-examination (OR = 1.245, CI = 0.647 - 2.394) while in terms of attitude, those with unfavorable attitude are one time less likely to do breast self-examination (OR = 1.025 CI = 0.949 -1.107).
 Conclusion: This study revealed a larger proportion of respondents have heard about breast cancer and breast self-examination but with inadequate knowledge of the correct procedures of breast self-examination (BSE) thereby resulting into poor attitude & practice of breast self-examination (BSE). This challenge therefore indicates an urgent need for continuous awareness and sensitization programs in the communities.
Highlights
Breast cancer is an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the milk producing glands of the breast or in the ducts that deliver milk to the nipples
27.3% of the respondents have ever performed breast self-examination (BSE) while only 19.5% of the respondents performed BSE in the past six months. This is similar to a previous study reported in Abuja that 56.4% of the respondents knew about BSE and 10.1% of the respondents have ever performed BSE [15] but it is in contrast to Assuit, South Egypt study that revealed that 87.9% of the respondents reported to have heard about Breast Self-Examination (BSE) [16]
84.3% of the respondents stated that they would like to know more about breast self-examination (BSE) and its procedure, which implies that young adolescent girls are eager to learn more about breast selfexamination (BSE) which will enhance positive attitude and behaviour towards the practice of breast self-examination (BSE) at an early stage of life
Summary
Breast cancer is an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the milk producing glands of the breast or in the ducts that deliver milk to the nipples. Breast cancer is the most common invasive cancer affecting women worldwide. It comprises 22.9% of invasive cancers in women and 16% of all female cancers [1]. It affects about 12% of the women population worldwide [2].Report on the incidence of breast cancer reveals that one out of every eight women in the world stands a chance of having the disease in her life time [3]. The high incidence of breast cancer necessitates the need for early detection which enhances early initiation of treatment thereby reducing mortality. The various diagnostic measures for early detection of breast cancer include breast self-examination (BSE), clinical breast examination (CBE) and mammography [6]
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