Breast Self-Examination intervention package: A boon to lesser educated women of a marginalized community

Abstract

Introduction: Breast self-examination (BSE) is a noninvasive and cost-effective method that allows women to examine their breast tissue for any visual or physical changes. It is recommended that all women aged 20 years and older should perform BSE as soon as the breasts are fully developed, and this should be done every month and at the end of the menstruation cycle. The awareness levels regarding BSE among women are poor and can be enhanced by Behavior Change Communication (BCC). The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge regarding BSE pre- and post-educational intervention among adult women of the reproductive age group. Methods: A community-based interventional study was conducted among 150 adult women (18–49 years) residing in the Palam area of Delhi. A BCC intervention package was administered, and pre- and 3-month post-intervention assessment was done. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 34 ± 9.46 years. None of the women had a good score of knowledge before intervention; while after intervention, more than half (56%) achieved a good score. The association between improvement in the BSE knowledge scores with age, socioeconomic status, and tobacco usage was found to be statistically significant. Conclusion: The mean score of knowledge improved after giving the BCC and the difference in all three scores was highly significant. Such an intervention package will benefit the women belonging to marginalized communities by raising awareness levels and acceptance for BSE.