Breast self-examination prevalence and determinants in low- and middle-income countries: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses

Background Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face a dual burden of infectious and chronic diseases, including breast cancer. Breast self-examination (BSE) is a vital tool for early detection, improving outcomes, and reducing mortality. Assessing its prevalence and determinants in LMICs is crucial for enhancing early diagnosis and treatment. Methods A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane, and Google Scholar using PICO criteria to identify systematic reviews and meta-analyses on breast self-examination in Low- and middle-income countries. Methodological quality was assessed using the AMSTAR tool. A random-effects meta-analysis pooled estimates, with heterogeneity ( I 2 ) and publication bias (funnel plot) evaluated. Forest plots presented pooled prevalence with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results This umbrella review included 10 studies (110,622 participants). The pooled BSE prevalence was 32.15% (confidence interval: 22.61–40.75), with high heterogeneity ( I 2 = 100%, p =