Practice of breast self-examination and its associated factors among women of reproductive age in seven public health facilities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - A multi-centre cross-sectional study

Sep 23, 2026

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Breast cancer drives cancer-related mortality worldwide and ranks as the second most common cancer among women globally. Breast self-examination (BSE) offers a low-cost approach for early detection in asymptomatic women, yet BSE practice remains limited in Ethiopia. This quantitative, multicentre cross-sectional study evaluated BSE practice and associated factors among women of reproductive age attending seven public health facilities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Among 553 respondents, only 96 (17.3%) practiced BSE. Education and occupational status were significantly associated; knowledge showed a strong effect, with knowledgeable women about BSE 4.75 times more likely to practice (AOR=4.75, 95% CI 3.85–7.45). Results support strengthening community awareness and promotion of BSE.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time30 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Background

Objectives

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Practice of breast self-examination and its associated factors among women of reproductive age in seven public health facilities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A multi-centre cross-sectional study Women's Health Volume 22: 1–12 © The Author(s) 2026 Article reuse guidelines: [sagepub.com/journals-permissions](sagepub.com/journals-permissions) [DOI: 10.1177/17455057261467912](DOI: 10.1177/17455057261467912)[ ](DOI: 10.1177/17455057261467912)[journals.sagepub.com/home/whe](journals.sagepub.com/home/whe) Abdurehman Seid Mohammed1 , Tsehaynesh Tafese2, Mathewos Sileshi Menberu1, Yared Nigussie1, Mustofa Hassen3 , Zewudu Minda4, and Getachew Mekete Deress5 Abstract Background: Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and the second most common cancer among women globally. Breast self-examination is a highly cost-effective method for the early detection of breast cancer inasymptomatic women. Despite this, the practice of breast self-examination remains low in Ethiopia. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the practice of Breast Self-Examination and Its Associated Factors among Women of reproductive age in Seven Public Health Facilities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Design: This study employed a quantitative, multicenter, institutionbased, cross-sectional, analytical design. Methods: The study was conducted among women of reproductive age receiving medical care at designated public health facilities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The study participants were selected using a simple random sampling technique from the study population. The data were reviewed, coded, and entered into Epi Info version 7.0, then transferred to SPSS version 27 for analysis. A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results were reported by using texts and frequency distribution tables. Result: A total of 553 respondents participated in the study; of these, only 96 (17.3%) participants ever practiced breast self-examination. Education and Occupational status were found to have a significant association with the practice of breast self-examination. There is a strong association between knowledge and the practice of breast self-examination (BSE) . Women of reproductive age who were knowledgeable about BSE were 4.75 times more likely to perform it compared to those with poor knowledge [AOR = 4.75, 95% CI (3.85, 7.45)] . Conclusion: The practice of breast self-examination among the study participants was low. Therefore, we recommend that the Ministry of Health and other relevant organizations promote community awareness about breast cancer and the importance of breast self-examination. Plain Language Summary This study explores how women of reproductive age in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, practice breast self-examination (BSE) and the factors that influence their behavior. Breast self-examination is a simple method women can use to check their own breasts for any changes or abnormalities, which can help in early detection of breast cancer. The research was conducted across 1Department of Public Health, Kidus Petros Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 2Department of Nursing, Kidus Petros Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 3Department of Internal Medicine, Kidus Petros Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 4Department of Anesthesia, Kidus Petros Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 5Department of Anesthesia, College of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia Corresponding author: Getachew Mekete Deress, Department of Anesthesia, College of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor 272, Ethiopia. [Email:](Email: meketegetachew16@gmail.com)[ meketegetachew16@gmail.com](Email: meketegetachew16@gmail.com) Creative Commons Non Commercial CC BY-NC: This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0

FAQs

What was the purpose of the study on breast self-examination?

The study evaluated the practice of breast self-examination (BSE) and identified factors associated with BSE among women of reproductive age in seven public health facilities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

How many women participated, and what proportion practiced breast self-examination?

A total of 553 women participated, and only 96 (17.3%) reported ever practicing breast self-examination.

Which factors were significantly associated with practicing BSE?

Education and occupational status were significantly associated with BSE practice. Knowledge had the strongest association, with knowledgeable women 4.75 times more likely to perform BSE than those with poor knowledge (AOR=4.75, 95% CI 3.85–7.45).

Sep 23, 2026

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