Title: Impact of Health Education Intervention on Uptake of Random Screening for Cervical & Breast Cancers among Rural Women in Villages of Gurgaon Cluster, Haryana, India
Authors: P. Cheena Chawla, Anil Kumar Chawla, Seema Chaudhary
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v4i12.31
Abstract
Disease awareness and socio-cultural practices together influence the treatment-seeking behavior of rural women as well as their uptake for preventive screening of breast and cervical cancers. This study was carried out to assess the awareness and knowledge of rural women about cervical and breast cancers and their attitude and uptake for primary screening of these cancers in villages of Gurgaon, randomly selected by our financial partner, DLF Foundation, Gurgaon. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 603 women, aged 21-65 years, who attended the awareness and screening camps on women’s cancers where random primary screening for breast and cervical cancers was done. Out of 603 women who participated in different camps held at various villages of Gurgaon, during 2014-2016, a volunteer sample comprising 235 women (39%) were screened for cervical and breast cancers. Further, 365 women (61%) were taught how to conduct self-breast examination. There were 88 cases (37.44%) out of 235 screened who were found to have genital infections for which they were given free medicines. Out of 235 screened women, 99 were suspected (42%) to have abnormalities in cervix or breast and were recommended for advanced tests (46 women for Pap smear test, 33 women for USG Abdomen and 20 cases for Mammography) for disease confirmation and guidance for proper treatment. Only 38 cases, however, adhered to the follow-up schedule. Specially designed, easy-to-understand leaflets (in Hindi) on the four women’s cancers (Endometrial Cancer, Breast Cancer, Ovarian Cancer and Cervical Cancer) were distributed to all participating women. The main finding was that rural women had poor knowledge about cervical and breast cancer screening and there was complete lack of awareness regarding the symptoms, risk factors and preventive screening of these cancers. Effective education and large-scale primary screening are necessary for alleviating the burden of cervical and breast cancers in India. It came to light that low family income and lack of transport contribute to women’s inability to reach health centres when faced with distressing symptoms of these cancers. The study concluded that cancer awareness programmes along with on-site primary screening of cervical and breast cancers, using simple, cost-effective techniques, would significantly benefit rural women as a majority of them never get a preventive screening done for these cancers.
Keywords: Cervical/Breast Cancer, Awareness, Preventive Screening, Follow-up.
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