Hamna Atique, Hurmat Fatima Azeem, Sidra Hamid, Tahmina Yousaf, Yusra Binte Hafeez.
Breast Cancer Awareness amongst Teenage Females: need of the Hour.
J Islamic Int Med Coll Jan ;16(2):85-9.

Objective: This study was conducted to determine awareness about signs, symptoms and the risk factors of breast cancer and its screening methods amongst female teenage students in the Federal Territory of Pakistan. Study Design: Descriptive Cross Sectional Study. Place and Duration of Study: Rawalpindi Medical University, Rawalpindi from 1st March 2018 to 15th June 2018. Materials and Methods: Using descriptive research design, quantitative data was collected using a close ended questionnaire derived from literature which was distributed amongst 450 females studying in various institutions of Islamabad, Pakistan. The awareness levels were categorized on a numerical scale of 0 to16; (0- 5=unaware), (6-10=moderately aware), (11-16= well-aware). Analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 23. Three groups were compared by applying chi square test and significance was set at p<0.05. Results: The percentage of the minimally aware teenagers was 40.89%, of moderately aware ones 53.11%, while only 6% females were maximally aware. There was a significant relationship between age of the individuals and awareness levels (p=0.00). The total awareness score and information regarding all risk factors of breast cancer was significantly related to education level of individuals, (p=0.00). Conclusion: Our study's results show moderately sufficient awareness about breast cancer symptoms, risk factors and screening methods amongst female teenagers studying in the federal territory of Pakistan.

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com