Abstract

CARVALHO FERNANDEZ, Ana Fátima; SILVA DE OLIVEIRA, Mariza  and  FERREIRA MOURA, Escolástica Rejane. Practice of the breast self-examination by the female users of the unique health system of Ceará. Rev Cubana Enfermer [online]. 2006, vol.22, n.3. ISSN 0864-0319.

A descriptive and exploratory study was conducted from January to March, 2004, aimed at verifying the knowldedge of women about the breast self-examination, and its importance in the early detection of cancer, as well as at analyzing its practice and the reasons not to perform it. It was applied in three health units of Ceará, including two of the capital, and one of the interior. 60 women that were users of the respective services were interviewed and data were analyzed starting from descriptive statistics. The results showed that 65 % of the interviewed did not know the breast self-examination, whereas 55 % considered to do it sometime. 45 % of them did not practice self-examination and the reasons were ignorance or forgetfulness, among others. It was considered that carrying out activities directed to improve the adhesion of women to self-examination is necessary in the context of the studied services, in addition to promote mechanisms capable to motivate the client to self-care.

Keywords : Cancer; breast; self-examination; breast; detection.

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