The practice of breast cancer screening among 64 female public school teachers in Siaton, Negros Oriental

Concern over the high and progressively increasing incidence of breast cancer among women in developed countries as well as in some developing countries, has led many scientists to conduct studies on women\u27s knowledge, beliefs, attitude, and practice of breast cancer screening. However, hardly are such studies done in the Philippines despite evidence showing breast cancer as the leading cause of cancer deaths among Filipino women. This present study describes the factors that affect the practice of breast cancer screening and intention for early presentation of breast abnormalities to health professionals among all female schoolteachers in Siaton, Negros Oriental. It was guided by a modified health belief model. The antecedent variables measured were as follows: a) at an individual level--income, education, age, children ever born, age at first pregnancy, and health history of respondents, and b) at an institutional level--availability of health services for breast cancer prevention and treatment, school administration\u27s health policy, and support from significant others to practice breast cancer screening (physician, colleagues, and family members). The proximate variables measured include the following: knowledge about breast cancer, health beliefs, previous health-seeking behavior, and lifestyle.To obtain the necessary data, in depth interviews were conducted among a total of 64 female schoolteachers who were present and were willing to be interviewed during the time frame set by the researcher for data collection. Self-administered questionnaires were also given to two health officers - one for each health institution in the community -- to determine availability of support from the health sector for breast cancer screening and prevention.The results obtained showed that although there was a high percentage (64 percent) of reported practice of breast self-examination, further probing revealed that these were not done with correct frequency and timing. The most common responses to frequency of practice were seldom (34 percent) and very often - every morning to twice a week -- (32 percent) of those who reported of doing BSE once a month and after menstruation. When probed, 27 percent of those who reported practice of BSE attributed it to their physicians\u27 encouragement. These observations imply that the respondents have a high tendency to practice BSE. What they lack was knowledge of how to do BSE properly and encouragement from individuals with authority about health matters, such as physicians. On the other hand, reported experiences of Clinical Breast Examination (CBE) among the respondents (72 percent) were often (30 percent) incidental to medical consultations for other health problems. Also, a majority (64 percent) did not have any immediate plan to voluntarily submit themselves for clinical breast examination, mainly due to absence of an observed health problem concerning their breasts (63 percent). There was also a denial of susceptibility to breast cancer observed among 92 percent of the respondents -- a factor identified in other studies done abroad as contributory to low participation in breast cancer screening programs