Research Article
Factors Influencing the Practice of Breast Self-Examination among Female Tertiary Students in Ho, Ghana
Table 2
Level of practice of breast self-examination.
| Practice of BSE variables | Frequency (N = 472) | Percentage (%) |
| Have you ever self-examined breast? | Yes | 345 | 73.1 | No | 127 | 26.9 | Currently the practice of BSE | Yes | 274 | 79.4 | No | 71 | 20.6 | Last time of BSE practice | Within this month | 15 | 5.5 | Within last month | 127 | 46.4 | Last three months | 40 | 14.6 | More than 6 months ago | 6 | 2.2 | Cannot remember | 86 | 31.3 | How often do you practice BSE? | Once every month | 178 | 65.0 | Once every six month | 37 | 13.5 | Once a year | 26 | 9.5 | Not often | 23 | 8.4 | Others | 10 | 3.6 | When did you start performing BSE? | Above 15 years | 69 | 25.2 | Below 20 years | 60 | 21.9 | 20 years | 57 | 20.8 | Above 20 years | 88 | 32.1 | When do you perform BSE? | Before menstruation | 31 | 11.3 | During menstruation | 4 | 1.5 | After menstruation | 105 | 38.3 | Anytime | 124 | 45.2 | Cannot tell | 10 | 3.7 | Which manual technique do you prefer most? | Palpating breast with an inner face of the middle finger | 215 | 78.5 | Pinching the nipples for discharges | 33 | 12.1 | I do not know | 20 | 7.2 | Others | 6 | 2.2 | What are some of the signs you look out for? | Lump in breast | 246 | 89.8 | Changes in nipples or texture | 160 | 58.4 | Bloody discharge from the nipple | 140 | 51.1 | Changes in breast size | 145 | 52.9 | Level of practice of BSE | Good Practice | 153 | 56 | Poor Practice | 121 | 44 | Reasons for practising BSE | Early detection of BC | 66 | 55.5 | Family history | 8 | 6.7 | It is convenient | 45 | 37.8 | Reasons for not practising BSE | Absence of symptoms | 41 | 36.3 | Anxiety | 21 | 18.6 | Negative family history | 4 | 3.5 | I do not want to touch my body | 6 | 5.3 | Feels funny | 16 | 14.2 | I do not know how to do it | 25 | 22.1 |
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