Table 6 Practice towards breast self-examination among women aged 20–70 at Gondar Town, Northwest Ethiopia, 2021

Have you ever done breast self-examination?

Yes

45.8% (n = 248)

No

54.2% (n = 293)

If ‘Yes’ when did you perform it?

Just a week after each menses

31% (n = 77)

When it comes to mind

52.4% (n = 130)

Anytime during menses

10.9% (n = 27)

Before menses

5.6% (n = 14)

If ‘No’ then why haven’t you performed it?

Fear of detecting an anomaly

0.3% (n = 1)

there are no problems with my breast

58.4% (n = 171)

Not necessary

7.5% (n = 22)

Too busy

2.0% (n = 6)

Don’t know how to self-examine

31.7% (n = 93)

How is breast self-examination done?

Palpate with one finger

1.2% (n = 3)

Palpate with palm and three fingers

98.4% (n = 244)

I do not know

0.4% (n = 1)

At what age did you start breast self-examination?

20–29 years

56.5% (n = 140)

30–39 years

28.6% (n = 71)

40–49 years

12.9% (n = 32)

50-70 years

2.0% (n = 5)

What time do you normally perform Breast self-examination?

Morning

21.8% (n = 54)

Afternoon

18.1% (n = 45)

Evening

60.1% (n = 149)

Where do you usually perform breast self-examination?

In front of the mirror

18.4% (n = 73)

Lying on the bed

45.8% (n = 182)

In the bathroom

35.8% (n = 142)

On identifying an abnormality in your breasts, what would you do?

Tell mother

4.4% (n = 11)

Tell spouse

6.5% (n = 16)

Consult doctor/nurse

89.1 (n = 221)

Not do anything about it due to embarrassment

0

Option for traditional healing

0