Knowledge, attitude and preventive practices of South Indian women towards breast cancer
Journal Title: THE HEALTH AGENDA - Year 2013, Vol 1, Issue 1
Abstract
Background: Indian women typically present late at advanced stages of breast cancer when little or no benefit can be derived from any form of therapy. Recent global cancer statistics indicate that incidence of breast cancer is rising and the increase is occurring at a faster rate in populations of the developing countries that hitherto enjoyed low incidence of the disease. This prevailing situation supported by recent data suggesting that health behavior may be influenced by level of awareness about breast cancer, prompted us to design a cross-sectional study to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of community-dwelling women in South India towards breast cancer. Methodology: Three hundred community-dwelling women from rural and peri-urban neighborhoods in Medchal mandal of Andhra Pradesh province, India were recruited for the study in May and June 2011. Data was collected using interviewer-administered questionnaires designed to elicit socio-demographic information and knowledge, attitude and practices of these women towards breast cancer. Data analysis was carried out using Epi_Info. Results: Study participants had poor knowledge of breast cancer. 21.4% participants knew that breast cancer presents commonly as a painless breast lump. Practice of breast self examination was low; only 4.58% participants were aware of the procedure, and none had clinical breast examination in the past year. Women with higher level of education (X2=33.446, p<0.001) and those who were married (X2=10.176, p<0.05) were significantly more knowledgeable about breast cancer. Conclusion: Community-dwelling women in Medchal mandal have poor knowledge of breast cancer, with minority practicing BSE and none practicing CBE. Educational status appears to be the major determinant of level of knowledge and health behavior among the study participants. We recommend establishment of policy guidelines that will enhance adequate and urgent dissemination of knowledge about breast cancer to all women in South India.
Authors and Affiliations
Pawan Kumar Sharma , Enakshi Ganguly , Disha Nagda , T Kamaraju
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP135571
- DOI -
- Views 116
- Downloads 0
A study to explore the determinants of child health in Melghat, Maharashtra
Background: Melghat is the hilly forest region of 312 small villages, known as one of the most underdeveloped regions in Maharashtra. The employment in Melghat is exploitative, enslaving and gender discriminatory. An est...
Status of institutional delivery in the state of Odisha: Challenges and opportunities
Maternal health is an area of prime concern in India. National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) has fast forwarded the progress in improving maternal health through initiatives like promoting institutional deliveries and impr...
Impact of age, height, weight and body mass index on sural sensory and soleus H-reflex study measures in healthy central Indian population
Introduction: Sural sensory nerve conduction studies and Soleus H-reflex studies are affected earliest in systemic illness like diabetes mellitus. Age, sex, height and BMI are associated with nerve conduction study varia...
A rapid assessment of some clinical and entomological indices in East, Central and North zones of Ahmedabad municipal corporation, Gujarat, India
Vector borne diseases are the major tropical health challenges and leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the world. Present study was carried out for rapid assessment of morbidity and mortality due to vector borne...
Process documentation of detection of rheumatic activity via throat swab culture among school children of Tripura in Northeast India
Rheumatic fever/rheumatic heart disease is a significant problem in children and young adults of our nation and hence needs attention on priority basis. This process documentation describes in brief how rheumatic activit...