Breast Cancer Screening among Female Personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces, Accra

Abstract

General objective: The main objective of the research was to determine the level of knowledge and determinants of Breast Cancer screening among female personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF). Methodology: Descriptive survey involving the use of questionnaire was used to obtain quantitative data from the respondents. A sample size of two hundred and ninety nine (299) female personnel of the GAF was used for the research using the stratified sampling method. The statistical package for Social Sciences was used to process the data. The data analysis involved the use of percentages and frequencies and a Test of Association (chi square test) at a 0.05 significant level and logistic regression Results: All the respondents who were given questionnaires had some knowledge on breast cancer. Most of the respondents know about Breast Self-Examination. The findings also revealed that signs and symptoms of breast cancer include lumps, breast pain, swelling of breast, dimpling of skin, bloody nipple discharge, redness of breast skin, skin irritation, nipple itchiness, lymph nodes under the arm, pulling in of nipple, and nipple that turns inward. Also although married women and women with tertiary education are more likely to go for breast screening, these factors are not statistically significant Conclusion: Female personnel of the GAF have general knowledge about breast cancer. Also, most of them know the signs and symptoms of breast cancer. Breast Self-Examination (BSE) method is the most common screening method used. Also, marital status and educational level do not significantly affect the probability of screening for breast cancer.