Conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas sobre autoexamen de mamas en estudiantes de Odontología de la Universidad de Cuenca, 2016

Abstract

Background: Worldwide, breast cancer is the most common among women. One of the ways of prevention is through breast self-examination, which is an important method that contribute to detect any abnormality in the breasts promptly. This allows an early diagnosis and an efficient treatment. Objective: To determine the knowledge, attitude and practice about breast self - examination in a group of female students of Odontology of the University of Cuenca, 2016. Methodology: A descriptive study was carried out with a sample of 115 women. A form made by the authors was used to the data collection. Tabulation and data analysis was performed in the SPSS 20 program and Microsoft Excel. The results are shown in tables and graphs of frequency and percentage with their respective statistical analysis. Results: The predominant age among the women surveyed was between 20-24 years old with 71.3%, 87% of them are single. 80.9% have moderately acceptable knowledge, and 80.9% have an accepting attitude toward breast self-examination. 39 participants of 115 practice breast self-examination, 17 of them apply the correct technique, and 19 perform the breast self-exam at the recommended frequency, every month. Conclusions: The women of our study have a moderately acceptable knowledge and their attitude was of acceptance towards breast self-examination. However, the study revealed that its practice is poor, only 33.9% of the participants do it but without adequate technique or frequency