Assessing Knowledge Level of Secondary School Students on Causes, Effects and Prevention of Breast Cancer in Tamale Metropolis, Ghana

Abstract

Background: The death rate related to breast cancer in Africa is frighteningly high and the prevalence of breast cancer is continuously increasing. The majority of breast cancer cases that are diagnosed and treated quickly can be cured. However, in some cases, acquired resistances to breast cancer treatments might lead to treatment failures and disease progression. Aim: The study aimed to assess the understanding level of secondary school students on the causes, effects and prevention of breast cancer. Methods: The study adopted a descriptive research design. A purposive sampling approach was used to choose Tamale Girls and Ghana Senior High Schools from the Tamale Metropolis and a simple random technique was used to identify the study respondents. Data was analyzed using SPSS. Statistics like frequency and percentages were used to represent the findings. Results: The study revealed that students had a moderate-to-high level of knowledge on the causes, effects and preventions of breast cancer which is mainly influenced by the form or class of learning. In general, very few students were involved in screening for breast cancer. Breast self-examination was the most widely used of the three procedures, followed by mammography and clinical breast examination. Breast cancer screening was linked to factors such as age, family size, religion, and social class. Most students did well on the health belief test when it came to low self-efficacy, perceived barriers, perceived advantages, and perceived vulnerability.  The majority of respondents (48.9%) showed a high degree of awareness of breast cancer, while just 11.3% showed a low level of knowledge. The study found that although students' levels of knowledge on breast cancer ranged widely, their understanding of its causes, effects, and prevention was moderate to high. The knowledge level of the respondents on the causes, effects and prevention of breast cancer did not vary significantly with their age (p=.793), family size (p=0.509), level of class/form (p=0.216) or religion (p=0.112). Conclusion: Numerous students exhibited a fundamental comprehension of breast cancer; however, considerable misconceptions and knowledge deficiencies remained, especially about risk factors, early detection techniques, and preventive strategies. The results highlight the necessity for extensive health education initiatives centred on breast cancer awareness in secondary educational institutions.