Abstract:
Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting the women worldwide. In
2018, 1183 deaths were occurred attributed to breast cancers in Sri Lanka. Early detection and
prompt treatment will reduce the risk of death and regular Breast Self Examination (BSE) will
ensure the early detection of breast cancer. School girls are the next female generation of the
society in which the awareness of the breast cancer and the practices on BSE need to be
improved for a healthy society.
Objectives: To evaluate the barriers for performing BSE among the female advanced level
students in a selected girls’ school in Gampaha district
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 advanced level
students in a selected girls’ school in Gampaha district. Students were enrolled using
systematic random sampling method. A pretested self-administered questionnaire was used to
collect data. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics.
Results: The advanced level students from Science (33%), Art (29%) and Commerce (38%)
streams were participated in the study. Majority of the participants were Sinhalese (97.8%) and
Buddhists (95%). Of the participants, 15.2% had family history of cancer and among them,
4.3% had family history of breast cancer. Only 1.3% of the students had performed the BSE at
least once during their life and only 1% had positive attitudes regarding the BSE. The most
commonly reported barriers for BSE were lack of self-concern (67%), feeling uncomfortable
(55%), fear (54%), shame (47%) and lack of knowledge (61%).
Conclusions: Majority of the students have not performed BSE. Lack of self-concern, feeling
uncomfortable, feer, shame and lack of knowledge were the barrires to perform BSE.
Awareness and attitude regarding the breast cancer and BSE should be improved and school
based awereness programmes can be implimented to fill the gaps in knowledge and attitudes.
