Rising Public Health Concern: Breast Cancer Awareness, Attitude, and Screening Practices among Community Members in Addis Ababa

Abstract

Abstract Background: Limited awareness and intervention strategies contribute to delayed diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, significantly impacting overall outcomes. In Ethiopia, awareness creation campaigns and strategies remain inadequate despite the growing public health concern. Objective: To assess the level of awareness, knowledge, attitude, and screening practice related to BC and to identify factors associated with knowledge and attitudes among female community members in Kirkos- Sub-city, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized a multistage random sampling technique to select participants from various neighbourhoods and communities within the 10 “woreda” (districts) of Kirkos Sub-City in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A total of 767 female community members were recruited. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS statistical software v.26.0. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize demographic data, awareness, knowledge, attitudes, and screening practices, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed to identify factors associated with satisfactory knowledge and positive attitudes towards breast cancer and its screening methods. A statistical significance in the final model was declared at p<0.05 and reported adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals. Results: The median age of participants was 32(Inter-quartile range: 25-42) years, with the majority being currently single (412, 53.7%). All the participants had heard about breast cancer, with an overall 72.0%  having satisfactory knowledge. Additionally, 453 (59.1%) of the participants had a positive attitude towards breast cancer and its screening and 197 (57.3%) reported rarely performing breast self-examination (BSE), and 61 (8%) had seen a doctor due to changes detected during BSE. Participants aged 41-50 and married participants were about 40% [AOR = 0.600; 95% CI: 0.420-0.857, p = 0.002] and 45% [AOR = 0.554; 95% CI: 0.321-0.956, p = 0.046] less likely to have satisfactory knowledge towards BC as compared to those under 30 and single, respectively. Participants who had heard about BC were 1.42 times more likely to have satisfactory knowledge [AOR = 1.42; 95% CI: 1.018-1.98, p = 0.013]. Those with a family history of BC had 2.7 times more often a positive attitude towards the disease [AOR = 2.71; 95% CI: 1.39-5.27, p = 0.002]. Conclusion: Knowledge about breast cancer and screening was found to be satisfactory, while attitude was relatively negative. Younger age, being single, and prior awareness of breast cancer were associated with better knowledge. However, only family history was linked to a more positive attitude. Therefore, tailored education and awareness campaigns that emphasize the impact of breast cancer, its risk factors, and screening methods are essential to enhance community-wide knowledge and promote early detection practices. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2025; 39(4)] Keywords: Breast Cancer, Awareness, Early detection, Female community members, Screening, Kirkos Sub-city, Addis Ababa,Ethiopia.