Background: Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in northeast Nigeria, while it predominates in the south-western part of the country. The situation in rural areas is compounded with poor access to health facilities, low socio economic status and illiteracy. It has been shown that early detection can reduce the risk of the disease by 40 per cent. Knowledge of the risk factors of breast cancer is very important in the prevention of the disease as it provides the individual the opportunity to seek early intervention. The objective of this study was to determine the level of awareness and examine the attitude and practice of rural women in northeast Nigeria regarding breast cancer. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional descriptive community based study involving 1600 rural women aged 20-40 years randomly selected from 28 village units was carried out using a 23 item structured validated questionnaire between April and June 2010. Result: Only 931 (58.2%) of them have heard of breast cancer. Of these, 263 (28.2%) perceive the cause as being brought about by a medical condition, 199 (21.4%) spiritual, 194 (20.8%) hereditary, 143 (15.4%) use of brassieres and 21 (2.3%) excessive breastfeeding. Three hundred and sixty (38.7%) know of Breast self-examination (BSE). Only 176 have ever done it; of those, 16 (9.1%) did it because one of their family members had breast cancer. More than half (58.8%) will use BSE if it is of benefit to them, 19.9% if their husbands agree and 4.2% if there is known cure. Conclusion: The results suggest the critical need for more and sustained awareness of Breast cancer.
