Online Program

320550
Breast-self examination and behavioral-related risk factors for breast cancer among Female college students in Bogota, Colombia


Monday, November 2, 2015

José F. Meneses-Echávez, PT, MPH, School of Health Sciences, University of Saint Thomas, Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
Robinson Ramírez-Vélez, PhD, School of Health Sciences, University of Saint Thomas, Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
Jorge Correa-Bautista, PT, PED, Centro de Estudios en Medición de la Actividad Física, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
Background: Breast cancer is a growing public health problem worldwide. Breast-self examination (BSE) is an inexpensive strategy proposed to improve early detection behaviors. Behavioral risk factors are crucial for cancer control since more than half of breast cancer cases can be prevented through behavior change.

Aim: To describe and establish assocations between the knowledge, attitudes and practices of breast-self examination, the knowledge about breast cancer risk and behavioral-related risk factors for breast cancer among female college students in Bogotá, Colombia. 

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out involving data from 928 young female students. Data for BSE were collected using a validated tool and the Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System (BRFSS) was used for lifestyle-related variables. 

Results: Women were a mean age of 21.7±11.8 years old. Fifty-seven percent of the women knew how to carry out BSE, although only 26.3% perfom it monthly. Further, a sedentary lifestyle was found in 53.3% of women and similar prevalences were observed for other behavioral variables. BSE was associated with age (p=0.02), socioeconomic status (p<0.001), knowledge about risk factors (p<0.001) and unhealthy lifestyles (p<0.001). 

Conclusions: There exists a low level of knowledge and practice of BSE among female college students. Preventive behaviors are associated with socioeconomical determinants in these women. Young women from colombia are at a high-risk of breast cancer beacuse of the critical prevalences of some behaviors related to unhealthy lifestyles found in this study. Further health-promotion strategies are warranted.

Learning Areas:

Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Advocacy for health and health education
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Diversity and culture
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related education

Learning Objectives:
Evaluate the assocations between breast-self examination and preventive behaviors among female college students in Bogota, Colombia. Describe knowledge, attitudes and practices about breast-self examination and behavioral risk factors for breast cancer in female college students in Bogota, Colombia.

Keyword(s): Community Health Assessment, College Students

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been supporting breast cancer early detection programs in Colombia due to my affiliation to the Ministry of Health and National Cancer Institute. My MPH thesis was related to this topic and now I am conducting a couple of health promotion strategies about early detection and preventive behaviors related to breast cancer in two cities of Colombia.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.