Nivel de conocimiento de autoexploración mamaria en adolescentes

Abstract

Introduction: Methods for early detection of breast cancer include self-examination and mastography. Objective: To determine the level of knowledge about breast self-examination from the perspective of adolescents. Method: Descriptive, transversal study, including high school students of both sexes. A survey about their background and knowledge about breast self-examination was applied; likewise, they underwent a visual test by an illustrated sheet and their perspective was questioned. Results: We included 498 high school students, 325 (65.3%) women and 173 (34.7%) males. The average age was 16.0 years. 92.2% knew what breast self-examination is, 21.7% said that information was provided by doctors and nurses, in 72.5% their breast are not being reviewed, 39.4% of women and 95.4% of men; visual test showed that the majority (73.1%) is doing the self-exploration but not in an orderly manner. There are shame and fear to know that they can have cancer, which are limiting factors for self-examination. Conclusions: These results differ by including men whose level of knowledge is remarkably lower; the proportion of participants with basic knowledge is greater than reported. This may be due to age or social characteristics. The role of the comunity health to provide information for early detection of breast cancer is crucial to reduce mortality from this cancer.