Effectiveness of Structured Educational Programme on Knowledge Regarding Breast Cancer and Breast Self-Examination Among Mothers of Toddlers

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of a structured education programme regarding knowledge of breast cancer and breast self-examination (BSE) among mothers of toddlers in a few aganawadis in the Malappuram district. The study's objectives included assessment of knowledge regarding breast cancer and breast self-examination among mothers of toddlers, determining the association between knowledge of breast cancer and breast self-examination among mothers of toddlers, and identifying selected demographic variables. It was done using a quantitative pre-post test study methodology. Using a convenient sample method, thirty mothers of young children who are older than 25 years old were chosen. The socio-demographic proforma and a self-assessed knowledge test on breast cancer awareness and self-examination were the tools employed. After receiving official approval from the relevant authority, a systematic questionnaire was employed to gather the required data. The time frame for data collection was from 25 May 2017 to 1 June 2017. The first day included a pre-test. An organized instructional programme was conducted that day. A post-test was conducted a week later. The findings showed that before the educational intervention, 3.3% of the total 30 samples had low knowledge and 96.6% had average knowledge. However, after educational intervention, 93.3% of the 30 samples had strong knowledge, and the remaining 6.6% had average knowledge. The outcome indicates that the study hypothesis H1 is not supported. According to the study, the average pre-test score was 15.53, whereas the average post-test score was 23.6. It suggests that the systematic educational programme on breast cancer awareness and breast self-examination was successful. This implies that the study hypothesis H2 is valid.