Correlation Between Body Appreciation and Female Breast Self-Examination

For many decades, cancer has remained a ubiquitous part of public health concern that has assumed a public health problem across the globe. Perhaps, several actions have been documented that attempt to provide a solution to the increasing spread of the disease. Breast self-examination is a cancer curbing strategy that has received enormous research attention in recent years. Nevertheless, many factors have been implicated in the BSE variance. Numerous studies have suggested that body appreciation is positively correlated with health behaviors and health care practice. The current study examined the relationship between body appreciation and BSE practice, using a sample of women (N = 248) in Kogi State, Nigeria. Linear regression resultsestablisheda positive correlation between body appreciation and BSE practice (p < .0.05). This result informs knowledge regarding determinants of BSE behavior among the female. The research concludes with a discussion of the practical implications and recommendations.

For many decades, cancer has remained a ubiquitous part of public health concern that has assumed a public health problem across the globe. Perhaps, several actions have been documented that attempt to provide a solution to the increasing spread of the disease. Breast selfexamination is a cancer curbing strategy that has received enormous research attention in recent years. Nevertheless, many factors have been implicated in the BSE variance. Numerous studies have suggested that body appreciation is positively correlated with health behaviors and health care practice. The current study examined the relationship between body appreciation and BSE practice, using a sample of women (N = 248) in Kogi State, Nigeria. Linear regression resultsestablisheda positive correlation between body appreciation and BSE practice (p < .0.05). This result informs knowledge regarding determinants of BSE behavior among the female. The research concludes with a discussion of the practical implications and recommendations.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………….... Introduction:-
Over the years, cancer has become a ubiquitous part of public health concern that has been designated an emergency public health problem in every society. Eguzo and Camazine (2013) contend that the trend of cancer poses a challenging public health apprehension in lower-income countries. Despite the health burden associated with cancer, the cost of diagnosis and management of the disease is considerably high and above the income of many cancer patients in developing nations (Oluka et al., 2014). Cancer incidence has generally been linked to increased mortality and morbidity worldwide(Jedy-Agba et al., 2012). Awodele et al. (2011) noted that with about one hundred thousand cases of cancer being reported in Nigeria annually, cancer incidence in Nigeria is considerably high. Accordingly, Nwogu et al. (2011)said that the most common known cancer incidence in Nigeria is cervical, prostate, liver, and breast cancers. The concept of breast self-examination denotes a do-it-yourself strategy that effectively monitors breast cancer in women (Ojotu & Attai, 2021). The idea is for women to constantly palpate the breast to screen for irregular shape or bump. Palpation of the breast is a simple physical, accessible, and suitable examination of the breast aimed to acquaint females with the breast's normal appearance and feel. This method has been found effective in reducing the incidence of late diagnosis (Kang et  . Some studies suggest that the process of breast self-examination is acceptable across all cultures and religions (Oladimeji et al.,2015). Perhaps, the method provides an easy step for women to use their fingers to feel their breast frequently to feel for breast pains, lumps, nipples discharge, change in shape or size, including a feature that poses a concern for the person. Indeed, the self-breast exam has contributed significantly to discovering breast cancer by individuals, either intentional or by accidental examination (Sultania et al., 2017). Also, it has contributed to the discovery of a significant percentage of breast cancer in the primary stage ( . Moreover, health behavior such as seeking medical attention and regular physical activity is related to higher body appreciation levels(Andrew et al., 2016). As such, body appreciation is considered a potential protective factor for both physical and mental health. The current study intends to investigate the association between body appreciation and women's motivation to examine their breasts for cancer purposes.

Hypothesis
For this study's purpose, it is hypothesized that body appreciation would significantly correlate with BSE practice among women.

Method:-
The present study was conducted in Kogi state Nigeria between July and September 2021. The population constitutesfemalesbetween the ages of 25 and 40 years who are enrolled in tertiary institutions in the state. The samples were randomly chosen from different departments in four tertiary institutions across the study parameter. The researcher employed and trained assistants from the selected institutions. They were instrumental in inviting the 942 prospective participants to participate in the study. In all, 296 female students consented to partake in the study. However, 27 of them were excluded based on age range. Those who met the age criteria (269) were briefed of the study's purpose and informed that participation was voluntary. In total, 269 questionnaires were distributed and retrieved on the spot. However, out of the 269 questionnaires given to the respondents, 21 copies were wrongly filled and discarded. Thus, only the satisfactorily filled copies (i.e., 248) were subjected to statistical analysis.

Measures:-
Body appreciation was assessed using the Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS) developed by (Tylka & Wood-Barcalow, 2015). The 10-item scale measures individual's perception, acceptance, and positive attitudes towards their bodies. The items in the scale are scored in a 5-point Likert-like form, ranging from 1 (never) to 5 (always). The items are summed, resulting in a score between 5 and 50. Higher scores indicate higher body appreciation. In the present study, a Cronbach alpha .87 was recorded for the scale.
BSE was assessed with a developed questionnaire intended to ascertain respondent's BSE behavior. Items were summed with higher average scores, indicating more frequency of BSE practice. The scale was validated after a pilot study, and a Cronbach alpha .76 was recorded on the questionnaire.

Result:-
It was assumed in this study that body appreciation would significantly correlate with BSE practice among women. Thus, a linear regression was performed to determine the effect of body appreciation on BSE practice. The result established a statistically significant correlation between body appreciation and BSE, F (1, 246) = 43.635, p < 0.05. The adjusted R 2 indicated that body appreciation accounted for 45.8% of females' BSE practice variation.

Discussion:-
The study aimed to explore the role of body appreciation on the practice of breast self-examination among females in Nigeria. An assumption was made that body appreciation would significantly correlate with BSE behavior among the female population in Nigeria. The linear regression analysis conducted on the data revealed that body appreciation statistically significantly correlated with breast self-examination practice among the respondents

Study strengths and limitations
The present study contributes to the breast cancer prevention literature by providing novel information on the association between body appreciation and breast self-examination in Nigeria's sample of young females. Perhaps, to the best of our knowledge, no study has been dedicated to investigating the association between body appreciation and BSE practice. Indeed, the current data might be relevant to the National Cancer Control Plan (NCCP 2018-2022) and other relevant cancer prevention societies in the fight against the spread of cancer. Perhaps, some limitations must be considered when interpreting the result. For example, self-report of body appreciation and BSE are important limitations. Moreover, due to the cross-sectional study design, the study is not able to discuss causeeffect.

Conclusion:-
This study investigated the correlation between body appreciation and BSE behavior. Body appreciation was found to be associated with female's appreciation of their body. Thus, the study concludes that body appreciation is an essential determinant of BSE practice among women. Perhaps, the study's assumption was supported. However, the study suggests that the inclusion of body image topics early in the educational landscape of Nigeria might play asignificant role in promoting body appreciation and lowering body dissatisfaction among young women. Also, BSE practice should be considered essential for student'shealth and well-being.