Factors Affected to Breast Self-examination Behavior among Women Used Contraceptive Pills in Chainat Province

Abstract

This descriptive research aimed to study breast self-examination behavior among women used contraceptive pills and factors predicting the behavior of these women. The samples selected by sampling with replacement method were 217 women used contraceptive pills in Chainat province. The research instruments applied Health Belief Model by Becker (1974) as the conceptual framework including 1) modifying factor 2) individual perception 3) cue to action factor, and 4) breast self-examination behavior. The validity of content validity index : (CVI) between .83 to .93. The questionnaire of knowledge about breast cancer and breast self-examination was tested using the KR-20 reliability test, which showed a result of .81.The validity of other questionnaire were tested using Combach’s Alpha Coefficient and the result were .83 to .90. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, Spearman and Pearson product moment correlation coefficient, and Stepwise multiple regression analysis. The result revealed that: 1. The mean score of breast self-examination behavior among women used contraceptive pills was high level ( = 2.37, S.D. = .32) 2. The overall health belief was at high level; ( = 2.35 , S.D. = .21) on the other hand, perceived barriers was at moderate level. ( = 1.78 , S.D. = .49) Furthermore, cue to action factor and modifying factor as knowledge about breast cancer ( = 2.65 , S.D. = .45) and breast self-examination factor ( = 12.33 , S.D. = 1.91) were at high level also. 3. Individual perception as perceived risk factor (r = .488), cue to action factor (r = .425), and modifying factor as knowledge about breast cancer and breast self-examination factor (r = .326) were significantly positive moderate correlation with breast self-examination behavior among women used contraceptive pills at p < .01 4. The significant factors predicted breast self-examination behavior were Individual perception as perceived risk factor, cue to action factor and modifying factor as knowledge about breast cancer and breast self-examination factor which accounted for 31.0% The square of multiple correlation coefficient (coefficient of determination) was R2 = .310