Abstract
Background: Breast cancer incidence rates among Arab women have increased during the last decades. In Saudi Arabia, according to the Ministry of Health, breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of awareness and perception towards breast cancer among the students of Albaha University, Saudi Arabia. Methodology: A cross-sectional institutional-based survey conducted from 15th February to 15th April 2019, among the students of Albaha University, Saudi Arabia. A sample of two hundred fifty female students was selected randomly from different faculties of Albaha University. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS- version 22.0) was used to analyze the data. Results: A total of (221) responses were analyzed with a response rate of (94.1%). Most of the respondents (91%) were in the age group of more than 20 years. Nearly all (98.6%) of the respondents told that they well knew breast cancer and were aware of cancer as an illness and (20.8%) revealed that they have family history of breast cancer. Their source of information was breast cancer awareness campaigns (68.1%). Regarding breast self-examination, less than half (46.6%) of those who knew about breast cancer had heard about breast self-examination (BSE). However, a considerable proportion (85.4%) of respondents does practice breast self-examination but irregularly. Conclusions: The awareness of Albaha University Female Students regarding breast cancer was satisfactory despite the hesitancy towards practicing breast self-examination which needs more elaboration and awareness campaigns.