Breast self-examination practices among young rural women and its associated knowledge and attitudes in Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Context: Breast self-examination (BSE) is a simple and cost-effective screening procedure in downstaging breast tumors. Aim: To assess the BSE practices and its associated knowledge and attitudes of rural women from Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu during the COVID-19 pandemic. Settings and Design: A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was employed, and snowball sampling was used to recruit the sample of rural women from Tirunelveli. Materials and Methods: Women ages 18–60 willing to take part were included. Data were collected online through a self-developed questionnaire. Statistical Analysis: Responses were analyzed using SPSS Version 20. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to present the general details and responses of the rural women through percentages. Using the appropriate tests, the mean differences of the BSE attitudes based on the personal variables were computed using one-way ANOVA. Results: A total of 433 rural women (Mean age: 29.20 ± 9.35 years) from Tirunelveli responded to the online Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) questionnaire. Regular health checkups were undergone by 27.48% of women and 9.24% underwent breast cancer (BC) screening in the past. While 68.36% had heard of BC, 61% knew it could be detected in the early stages. Insufficient knowledge regarding BSE techniques was evident among the women. Knowledge about BC was highest among those earning more than 20,001 INR, women aged 36–45, widowed/separated/divorced women, and diploma graduates. Overall, BSE and BC knowledge score was low, with correspondingly low attitudes and practices. Conclusion: Findings showed the KAP among rural Tirunelveli women to be low.