Abstract:

Background: Each year breast cancer kills approximately 40,000 women globally. Breast cancer is on the rise in many part of Africa, in Tanzania, breast cancer is the second leading cause incidence and mortality among women. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude and practices of SBE among female primary school teachers and women of child-bearing age in Ilemela Mwanza, Tanzania.

Methods: The study involved 200women of child bearing age and primary school teachers had previously heard of SBE. Primary school teachers had higher proportion of those who correctly reported SBE should begin at age 20+ years (66.5 vs 49% of, p<<0.0001). Higher proportion of primary school teachers reported SBE should be performed monthly (81.0% vs 69.0%, p=0.011). Primary school teachers had higher proportion of those disagree on postures for SBE should done while standing in front of mirror (81.0% vs 68.0%, p<0.05). Proportion of positive attitude level towards SBE and practice SBE over the last 12 months was higher among primary school teachers (64% vs 51% p=0.009) and (76.0% vs 51.05 p<0.0001) respectively. Women in age 36-49 years were 2 times more likely to have ever practice SBE in the past last 12 months than their counterpart in age between 2—35 (AOR=2.12, 95% CI=1.31, 3.44, p<0.05). Primary school teachers were 1.61 times more likely to ever practice SBE in the past last 12 months compared to women of child bearing age (AOR=1.61, 95% CI=1.27, 2.04, p<0.05).

Conclusions: These findings revealed current knowledge gap in the practice of SBE in the prevention of breast cancer in the study area whereby female primary teachers had higher knowledge and were more likely to practice SBE than women of child bearing age. There is a need for SBE sensitization campaigns and education in the community.