A study to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices regarding breast cancer among government school teachers of ambala cantt, district Ambala, Haryana

A cross sectional study was carried out to assess the Knowledge, Attitude and Practices regarding breast cancer among 491teachers of Government Schools using self-administered method with pre- tested questionnaire. The objectives were to evaluate knowledge, attitude and practices and to study their relationship with socio- demographic variables. Data collected from government schools were entered and analysed using SPSS version 23. The study revealed, majority of teachers,23% were within 41-45 years and 21.2% within 26-50 years of age group. The mean age was 44.79±7.69. Most, 54.2% were aware of the term breast self-examination (BSE) and 55.6% subjects had the knowledge that the breast cancer was indicated by breast lump. Regarding risk factors of breast cancer, 44.6% knew little or no breastfeeding, 44.0% tobacco/smoking, 43.4%family history of breast cancer, 42.2% radiation exposure and 41.5% role of inherited gene as a risk factors for breast cancer. Most 48.5% respondents were aware that pain in the breast is a symptom for breast cancer. Most, 57.6% had average and 41.5% had poor knowledge regarding breast cancer with mean score 12.99. 88% had positive and 12% had negative attitude. 85.1% opined to do BSE if they knew how to do it. About 42% of the respondents performed breast self-examination. The only significant association was found between type of family and attitude level (p<0.006). In sum, the teachers lack knowledge regarding breast cancer which needs to be viewed as serious, considering this problem in the larger context in the society.