Abstract:
With an increasing prevalence and mortality of breast cancer in Pakistan, early screening has
become vital for survival. However, a gap is seen between the increasing knowledge of
Breast Self-Examination (BSE) and its practice among young Pakistani women. In this
regard, this study determined if the tenets of health belief model explained this gap. The
study was cross-sectional in nature. It used online platforms to collect data from 205 young
women from different cities of Pakistan. The participants completed Breast Self-Examination
Knowledge and Practice Questionnaires along with Champion’s Health Belief Model Scale
(CHBMS) for the study. The results showed that perceived benefits, perceived barriors,
perceived confidence and health motivation, along with BSE knowledge determined BSE
practice among young women. Further, the findings also indicated that BSE knowledge had a
significant indirect influence on BSE practice through health motivation and perceived
confidence. Findings outlined that health beliefs accounted for the low rate of BSE practice
among young women in Pakistan. The implications for these findings are discussed.
