Knowledge, attitude and practice of breast self examination among nurses in Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer that afflicts women worldwide. Early detection allows for interventions that will optimize the life of affected individuals. This study determines knowledge, attitude and practice of selfbreast examination among nurses in a tertiary health institution in Nigeria. It was a questionnaire based cross- sectional study that spanned 2 months (September-October 2007). Respondents were randomly recruited upon verbal consent. Ninety-eight respondents were got. The age range of the nurses was 20- 55 years, 54(55.1%) of them were nulliparous, 28 (28.6%) multiparous. Ninetysix (98.0%) of them have heard of breast cancer, mainly (68.4%) heard of breast cancer from the hospital. 69(70.4%) correctly knew that breast cancer starts as a small lump, and 58 (59.2%) knew that early detection ensure management and better outcome. 91 (92.9%) have heard of Breast self examination, mainly (64.3%) through seminars. Only 28 (28.6%) practiced SBE monthly, 77 (87.0%) did not adopt the correct steps. There is an urgent need for continuing education and in service training to improve the knowledge and practice of BSE among nurses because of their perceived role in awareness creation among the local population. Keywords: Breast, examination, nurses, monthly,prevention. Ebonyi Medical Journal Vol. 6 (1) 2007 pp. 44-4