Attitudes Towards Breast Self-Examination: A Comparative Study of Females in Universities of Ghana and Bergen

Abstract

Breast cancer is a feared disease, which affects women almost exclusively. Statistics show that one in eight women will most likely develop this disease at some stage during their lives. Secondary prevention (early detection) is the mainstay. Monthly breast self-examination is one of the necessary components o f a comprehensive approach to early detection of breast cancer. However, most women do not practise it. This study set out to examine some of the factors that determine students' intention to practise breast self-examination, using the theory of planned behaviour and the multidimensional health locus of control. Two hundred and forty female students from the Universities of Bergen and Ghana were asked to indicate the extent to which attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control influenced their intention to practise breast self-examination. They were also asked a series of questions to determine their health locus of control. The relationships between the theory of planned behaviour variables and multidimensional health locus of control were assessed. The results revealed that attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control predicted intention to perform breast self-examination for University of Bergen female students. For female students from University of Ghana, only perceived behavioural control predicted intention to practise breast self-examination. In addition, females who depended less on powerful others as far as their health was concerned did not receive much approval from significant others regarding breast self-examination. More studies using the theory of planned behaviour and multidimensional health locus of control, and involving Ghanaian context are needed to determine predictors of breast self-examination to help in intervention situations.