Knowledge and Attitude towards Breast Cancer among Female School Teachers in El-Sharkia, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among Egyptian women. Aim : To determine the knowledge and attitude of female school teachers towards breast cancer in Ibrahemia district, El-Sharkia Governorate, Egypt. Subjects and Methods: A descriptive study design was used. The study sample amounted to 200 female teachers from Ibrahemia schools. Two types of tools were used for data collection: a questionnaire sheet which was designed to collect information on the socio-demographic characteristics of the studied female school teachers, and their knowledge about prevention of breast cancer and a three point likert scale was used to assess the attitude of the female school teachers towards breast cancer. Results: More than half (51.5%) of the school teachers had low level of knowledge about breast cancer and only 8.5% had high level of knowledge. The majority of them expressed positive attitude towards breast cancer (86.5%). Twenty nine percent of female teachers were practicing breast-self-examination (BSE) but only 5.0% of them used the correct procedure of BSE. Recommendations: Findings of this work highlight the need for increasing awareness of female school teachers about breast cancer through heath education programs which to provide them with information about breast cancer and teach them the correct technique for BSE. Booklets about breast cancer, BSE and healthy lifestyles should be available at school libraries in Arabic language. Key Words: Attitude, breast cancer, El-Sharkia Governorate, knowledge, school teachers