Adolescent Reproductive Health Education and Its Effects on Knowledge and Self-Regulation for Early Breast Cancer Detection: A Literature Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37287/ijghr.v8i6.2758Keywords:
adolescent reproductive health education, breast cancer, breast self-examination, early detection, knowledge, self-regulationAbstract
Breast cancer remains a major global health concern, underscoring the importance of prevention and early detection strategies. Breast self-examination (BSE) is a simple and accessible method that can be introduced during adolescence. However, its implementation remains limited due to inadequate knowledge, low risk perception, and limited self-regulation skills related to maintaining breast health. This systematic literature review aimed to examine the effects of adolescent reproductive health education on knowledge and self-regulation in supporting early breast cancer detection among adolescents. A literature review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines. Relevant studies published between 2021 and 2026 were identified through searches of PubMed, ScienceDirect, Wiley Online Library, and Google Scholar The search strategy was adapted to the characteristics of each database using combinations of keywords and Boolean operators (AND and OR). The general search strategy was: ("Adolescent Reproductive Health Education" OR "Adolescent Health Education" OR "Health Education") AND ("Breast Cancer" OR "Breast Cancer Awareness" OR "Breast Self-Examination" OR "SADARI") AND ("Knowledge" OR "Self-Regulation" OR "Self-Efficacy" OR "Health Behavior"). A total of 551 articles were identified, and 10 studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the narrative synthesis. The findings indicate that adolescent reproductive health education delivered through BSE education, educational leaflets, audiovisual media, virtual education, and hands-on training can improve knowledge, motivation, self-efficacy, and the ability to perform early breast cancer detection. Educational interventions also demonstrated potential to strengthen adolescents' confidence and self-regulatory capacity in adopting breast health practices. Adolescent reproductive health education plays an important role in improving knowledge and self-regulation related to early breast cancer detection.
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