الفهرس 
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Abstract
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. It is a asymptomatic in early stages, and may be present with palpable lump. When diagnosed early, the prognosis is better. This explains the importance of screening for early detection of breast cancer. Mammography and breast self-examination are important tools for screening. While mammography is used in developed countries, its cost and availability reduce its use in developing countries which depend mainly on breast self- examination.
In this study we investigated the effect of health education on the knowledge and attitude of breast self-examination. We enrolled 400 fourth year non-medical female students for the study from 4 faculties. We asked them to fill the chosen knowledge and attitude questionnaire. We then divided them into two group; group(A) who had an educational lecture about breast self-examination, and group (B) who did not have the lecture. After one month, we asked all the students to fill in the questionnaire again. After the DROP out, 370 of them completed the study.
After the lecture, group A’s knowledge and attitude showed improvement in aspects of total scores and percentages and questions scores. Good knowledge and attitude levels increased significantly after the lecture. Meanwhile in group B, only total attitude scores increased significantly after the lecture. Most knowledge and attitude questions did not show any statistically significance improvement.
Conclusion:
The knowledge and attitude measures in non-medical faculties demonstrated poor scores and levels. This indicates the lack of health education sessions directed to this age group at our locality. Implementing educational session resulted in statistically significant improvement in the knowledge and attitude measures in the group who received the lecture compared to those who had not. Health education is an important tool for improving the BSE, hence early detection of breast cancer.
Recommendations
Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended to:
• Develop an educational program for female students at secondary schools and university about breast cancer and BSE.
• Provide training to students to increase their knowledge about BSE and research should be performed to identify the factors that hinder the practice of BSE so that their effect can be countered.
• Perform further studies comparing the knowledge and attitude of BSE among different age groups.
• Utilize efficiently all channels of the national mass media (such as television, magazine, newspaper) to a healthy positive attitude towards BSE by providing information and raise awareness about BSE practices.
• Raise community awareness especially young females about risk factors, signs and symptoms, preventive measures, BSE and early detection methods of breast cancer. This can effectively be done through national health programs.
• Include breasthealth-related issues in the curriculum of the faculties of education.
• Emphasize the importance of clinical breast examination by nurses and physicians during routine checkup visits and during premarital care.
• Provide free breast cancer screening services , or at an affordable cost, by the ministry of health to women as high cost represents a barrier to screening participation.