Determinants of Self Breast Examination Among Students of College of Nursing, Bida, Nigeria

Abstract

Breast Self-Examination (BSE) is a cost-effective method for breast cancer prevention. This descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to identify factors influencing BSE practices among 215 nursing students at the Nursing School, Bida, selected via multi-stage sampling. Data were collected via interviewer-administered questionnaires and analyzed using IBM SPSS version 23. Results showed that 54.2% had good knowledge, 63.0% had a positive attitude, and 85.9% demonstrated good practice of BSE. Year of study and ethnicity were statistically associated with practice (p<0.05). The findings highlight a strong practical uptake despite moderate knowledge, underscoring the need for intensified awareness campaigns to promote early adoption of BSE, thereby facilitating early detection and prompt treatment of breast cancer.