Effectiveness of breast cancer prevention instructional program on female secondary student's knowledge among a sample in Baghdad City

Abstract EN

Breast Cancer is the most common cancer among women, comprising 23 percent of the female cancer globally.

AQuasi –experimental study was conduct at four female's secondary schools after obtained permission from Directorate general education in Baghdad city during the period from 15 February to 1 April 2014 to assess knowledge of female's students about breast cancer prevention and to find out the impact of instructional program on students.

The study include 200 students from four schools and carried through four phase pre-test, planning the instructional program, implementation the program and evaluation the program as post-test .Results shows that level of students' knowledge on breast cancer is limited and inadequate with defect in responses in some items., it also indicates that the students are very enthusiastic to learn about breast cancer and its prevention.

After implementation the instructional program post-test revealed that there was a highly significant improvement in the knowledge and also high significant differences between means of their knowledge in pre and posttest in all items.

In conclusion most students reported inadequate knowledge in pre-test with highly significant improvement of their knowledge in the post-test indicating effectiveness of the instructional program and the limited level of students' knowledge might be an obstacle to screening program and early diagnosis.

Awareness program should be developed including lecture, and on hands training.