Abstract

Background: Cancer is a lethal disease that claims millions of lives each year. Among all types of cancer, breast cancer is the most prevalent and the leading cause of mortality among women in developing countries. In Sudan, its incidence rate is 25.1 per 100,000 population, making it the most commonly diagnosed primary malignancy among women. Breast Self-Examination (BSE) is considered a key method for identifying early breast cancer.

Objectives: To assess the awareness of breast cancer and the practice of self-breast examination among female health workers in Shendi and Al-Matammah towns from November 2023 to January 2024.

Methods: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional, hospital-based study examining awareness of breast cancer signs, risk factors, and the practice of Self-Breast Examination (SBE) among female health workers across all health institutions in Shendi and Al-Matammah localities, involving 335 female health workers to evaluate their knowledge of breast cancer signs, risk factors, and examination practices.

Results: The study was conducted among medical staff in the Shendi locality and involved 335 participants. Thirty-one participants (9.3%) reported not knowing the importance of early detection of breast cancer, while 113 participants (33.7%) stated they have average knowledge, and 191 participants (57.0%) indicated they possess good knowledge.

Conclusion: The prevalence of breast self-examination among healthcare professionals is notably low. This emphasizes the need for ongoing medical education on breast cancer and breast self-examination to enhance the knowledge and skills of female healthcare providers. Continuous medical education programs are urgently needed.

Keywords:Breast self-examination; SBE; Breast cancer; Female healthcare