Breast Cancer Awareness and the Practice of Self Breast Examination Among Undergraduate Students in Karachi, Pakistan.

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer remains one of the most prevalent malignancies affecting women worldwide, and breast self-examination (BSE) is acknowledged as a sensitive method for its early detection. This study aimed to assess the level of awareness regarding both breast cancer and BSE among undergraduate students in Karachi, Pakistan.

METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at a public-sector university in Karachi. A total of 328 female students were selected using multistage stratified cluster sampling. The Chi-square test was employed to evaluate differences in awareness levels across various socio-demographic characteristics, with a p value of less than 0.05 considered statistically significant. All ethical guidelines were strictly adhered to throughout the study.

RESULTS

The mean age of the participants was 22 years. The study revealed that younger age groups (18-22 years), first-year students from various colleges, and students enrolled in business programs exhibited significantly lower levels of awareness regarding both breast cancer and BSE (p value <0.005). Overall, appropriate levels of awareness were reported by 45.1% of the participants for breast cancer and 47.3% for BSE.

CONCLUSION

The findings indicate that the awareness levels regarding breast cancer and BSE are inadequate, particularly among first-year students and those pursuing business-related studies. These results underscore the need for targeted educational interventions to enhance awareness and promote the early detection and effective management of breast cancer through the practice of BSE.