Knowledge of Risk Factors for Breast Cancer among Female Secondary School Teachers in Enugu East LGA, Enugu State

Abstract

Breast cancer is a major public health problem often associated with high morbidity and is sometimes connected with poor knowledge and screening practices among women. Therefore the study investigated knowledge of risk factors for breast cancer among female secondary school teachers in Enugu East LGA, Enugu State. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was employed for the study. The population for the study comprised 543 female secondary school teachers in public secondary schools. The multi-stage sampling procedure was used to draw 380 female secondary school teachers in public secondary schools. A structured Knowledge of Risk Factors for Breast Cancer Questionnaire (KRFBCQ) was used for data collection. Data were analysed using frequency counts, percentages and Chi-square test. Findings revealed that more than 50 per cent of the respondents were within the age bracket 20-49 years and mostly acquired first degree (63.7%), and a majority (86%) indicated no family history of breast cancer. Nearly half (48%) of the teachers had adequate knowledge of breast cancer risk factors while more than half (52%) had poor knowledge of breast cancer risk factors. A significant association was found between age and educational qualification of female secondary school teachers in Enugu East LGA, concerning knowledge of risk factors for breast cancer. The findings suggested that there is the need to organize series of seminars, workshops and health education programmes aimed at improving knowledge of breast cancer among female secondary school teachers to decrease mortality and morbidity due to breast cancer among women.