Analyze the influence of factors affecting breast self-examination behavior among women in Bo Suphan Subdistrict, Song Phi Nong District, Suphan Buri Province

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to 1) assess knowledge, attitude, and practice of breast self-examination among women; 2) compare personal information such as age, marital status, educational level, occupation, monthly income, and information awareness with the behavior of breast self-examination among women; and 3) analyze the influence of knowledge and attitudes on women's behavior in performing breast self-examination. The study methodology was quantitative research with a cross-sectional study design. The population of 2,580 people, with a sample size of 346 determined according to Taro Yamane’s formula, using systematic sampling. The research instrument was a knowledge test and questionnaire, which were divided into 5 parts. The quality of the tool was checked by 5 experts, with the conformity index at 0.75, the difficulty value at 0.36, discrimination power at 0.71, and reliability at a level of 0.755. The statistics used for the data analysis were percentage, mean, standard deviation, F-test (one-way ANOVA), and stepwise multiple regression. The results of the study found that 1) most individuals have a moderate level of knowledge (64.20%). Their attitude has an average score at a moderate level, and their behavior regarding breast self-examination has an average score at a good level. 2) Age, educational level, occupation, and income differ significantly in their behaviors regarding breast self-examination at the 0.05 level of statistical significance, and 3) knowledge and attitude significantly influence breast self-examination behavior by 6.40% (β = 21.998, p < .01) at the .01 level of statistical significance. Encouraging women to gain knowledge about breast self-examination and emphasizing its importance will lead to an increase in the practice of breast self-examination.