Table 1 Characteristics and study findings of included studies
Author and date | Country | Geographical area | Study setting | Study design | Study population | Significant study findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Abera et al, 2017 [45] | Ethiopia | Urban | University campus | pre-experimental study | 1st year midwifery students | Before intervention 0% never detect lump after intervention 77% detected lump. |
Agbonifoh, 2016 [54] | Nigeria | Urban | University campus | A descriptive survey | Female students in the tertiary institution | The course of study and knowledge of BSE significantly influenced the practice of BSE, but parental and family history of BC did not. |
Casmir et al, 2015 [62] | Nigeria | Urban | University campus | A descriptive cross-sectional survey | Female undergraduate students | A statistically significant relationship between knowledge of risk factors for BC, source of information on BSE, the age of the respondents and practice of BSE. |
Faronbi & Abolade, 2012 [63] | Nigeria | Rural | Senior High School | Descriptive cross-sectional survey | Female secondary school teachers | 22% understood BSE helped in early detection of BC. |
Fondjo et al, 2018 [48] | Ghana | Urban | Senior High School/ University campus | A cross-sectional study | Female students | More tertiary students perform BSE than SHS students. 76.3% perform BSE because of the benefits. |
Godfery et al, 2016 [59] | Uganda | Urban | University campus | Cross-sectional study | Female students | 38% of those not practicing planned to practice. |
Gwarzo et al, 2009 [46] | Nigeria | Urban | University campus | Mix method [quantitative/qualitative] | Female students | Practice of BSE higher among those with a family history of BC. Two students had detected a lump in their breast. |
Idris et al, 2013 [65] | Sudan | Urban | University campus | A descriptive cross-sectional study | Final year female medical students | 46.5% performed BSE correctly and 44% found lump by performing BSE. |
Isara & Ojedokun, 2011 [60] | Nigeria | Urban | SHS campus | A descriptive cross-sectional study | Female students | 31.4% who had good knowledge of BSE had practiced BSE. |
Kimani & Muthumbi, 2008 [64] | Kenya | Urban | University campus | A cross-sectional descriptive study | Female students | No significant difference between the preclinical and clinical in the practice of BSE. |
Makanjuola et al, 2013 [52] | Nigeria | Rural | Ala community | A descriptive cross-sectional study | Women living in Ala community | 34% recognize BSE as BC preventive measure. |
Nde et al, 2015 [61] | Cameroon | Urban | University campus | Cross-sectional descriptive study | Female undergraduate students | Significant association between knowledge, attitude and the tendency to practice BSE. Among those who performed regularly 22.2% detected abnormal pains, abnormal lump 11.1%, discharge of pus from nipple 11.1%, and abnormal size 11.1%, 44.4% other abnormalities. |
Obaikol et al, 2010 [47] | Uganda | Urban | University campus | Mix method | Female students | 4.8% found to have breast lumps, 43.3% knew BSE as a screening method and 42.1% for diagnosis purposes. |
Obaji et al, 2013 [51] | Nigeria | Urban | Market | A cross-sectional descriptive study | Women | 38.9% of the women admit BSE as a means of early detection of BC, awareness of BSE is associated with the level of education. |
Oladimeji et al, 2015 [53] | Nigeria | Urban | Markets | A descriptive cross-sectional study | Market women | Knowledge of the performance of BSE increased with age and marital status. |
Olowokere et al, 2012 [49] | Nigeria | Rural | Health facility | A descriptive cross-sectional study | Rural women | Majority of the women [61.1%; n= 110] who were not practicing BSE likely to start practicing it. |
Onwere et al, 2009 [57] | Nigeria | Urban | Antenatal clinic | A descriptive cross-sectional study | Patients at ANC | BSE positively associated with attained educational level. |
Sama et al, 2017 [55] | Cameroon | Urban | Teacher Training College | Descriptive cross-sectional study | First cycle female undergraduate students | 93% recognized the importance of BSE for their health. |
Sambo et al, 2013 [50] | Nigeria | Urban | University campus | A cross-sectional descriptive stud | Female students | 30.2% mentioned breast lump as a feature of BC, no significant association between knowledge and practice of BSE and level of study. |
Sarfo et al, 2013 [58] | Ghana | Urban | University campus | A single case study approach | Female nursing students | The majority had knowledge on BSE, cited BSE as a method of BCS and that BSE was necessary |
Segni et al, 2016 [56] | Ethiopia | Urban | University campus | A Cross-sectional study | Female students | 44.2% knew BSE is done monthly, 53.8% knew painless nodules as a sign to diagnose BC. |