Breast Cancer Awareness and Breast Self-Examination Practices among Female Students at Al-Mashreq University: A Cross-Sectional Study
Malaz Saad Al-din Mohammed
Faculty of Medicine, Al-Mashreq University, Khartoum, Sudan.
Fatima Mohammed Osman
Faculty of Medicine, Al-Mashreq University, Khartoum, Sudan.
Ekram Al Ebeid Al Sayed
Faculty of Medicine, Al-Mashreq University, Khartoum, Sudan.
Elmoiz Babekir
Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Mashreq University, Khartoum, Sudan and Department of Medicine and Adult Critical Care Medicine, Ibn Sina College for Medical Studies, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Kannan O. Ahmed
Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, National University of Science and Technology, Muscat, Oman and Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Gezira, Wad Medani, Sudan.
Bashir A. Yousef
*
Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Ibn Sina National College for Medical Studies, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women worldwide and a major cause of preventable cancer mortality, particularly in resource-constrained settings where delayed presentation is common. Breast self-examination (BSE) does not replace clinical assessment or mammography, but breast self-awareness may promote early help-seeking among young women. This study assessed breast cancer awareness and BSE practices among female students at Al-Mashreq University.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 215 female students at Al-Mashreq University, Jeddah Center, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire covering sociodemographic characteristics, breast cancer risk factors, warning signs, screening knowledge, attitudes, BSE practice, and barriers. Descriptive statistics summarised participant characteristics and responses. Chi-square tests assessed associations between knowledge level and sociodemographic variables. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05.
Results: Most participants were aged 20 to <25 years (148/215, 68.8%), single (206/215, 95.8%), and had no family history of breast cancer (169/215, 78.6%). Overall, 115 students (53.5%) had good knowledge, 65 (30.2%) moderate knowledge, and 35 (16.3%) poor knowledge. Although 179 students (83.3%) had heard of BSE, only 69 (32.1%) practised it, and only 27 (12.6%) reported monthly practice. The most common barriers were lack of knowledge (82/215, 38.1%), forgetfulness (53/215, 24.7%), and fear of discovering an abnormality (40/215, 18.6%). Knowledge level was significantly associated with age, college, academic year, and family history of breast cancer.
Conclusion: Female students showed acceptable breast cancer awareness but inadequate BSE practice. Structured, practical, and culturally sensitive breast health education is needed to convert awareness into sustained early-detection behaviour.
Keywords: Breast cancer, awareness, breast self-examination, female students, early detection, university students, public health