The health belief model and prediction of breast self-examination practices in female Mexican college students

Abstract

Background: Cancer incidence and mortality in young Latin American women has increased over the last few decades. In Mexico, breast self-examination (BSE) is recommended from 20 years of age to create awareness of breast cancer and detect body changes. The health belief model (HBM) allows us to identify young women's beliefs about cancer and BSE, which could help us to design more appropriate strategies to promote BSE in the fight against breast cancer. Objective: To assess the knowledge, practice, and beliefs about cancer and BSE in female college students; examine the differences between those who practice BSE and those who do not; and determine the most influential variable for performing BSE. Design: A descriptive cross-sectional design was used; the Health Belief Model scale for BSE was applied to 949 female college students from a public university. Results: This Major health study showed that suffering benign breast disease and having a family history of breast cancer was associated with BSE performance; it also found that the dimensions of the health beliefs model differed depending upon barriers, benefits, self-efficacy and health motivation were different between women who perform an BSE in. The predicting variables for BSE practice were self-efficacy, the barriers perceived, benign breast disease, and the major subject of study. Conclusion: Reports of BSE practice in female students from Latin American countries are similar; however, the predictive variables differ from those found in the general population. Perceived barriers and self-efficacy are factors capable of modification, and must be addressed by BSE promotion strategies aimed at female college students.