1. Home
  2. Vol 3, No 4 (2021)
  3. Omotoso

Knowledge of Breast Self-Examination, Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening among Indian Women

Olabode Omotoso, Sucheta Malakar, Nabanita Chutia, Ghadier Matariek, Ghada Mahmoud Abdel-Rafee, Elizabeth Omotoso

Abstract


The burden of breast and cervical cancer in terms of incidence and mortality in low- and mid-income countries is increasing daily due to late diagnosis, unhealthy lifestyle choices, late presentation, and poor attitude to screening. Early detection increases the chances of survival. This present study assessed Assam women’s breast and cervical cancer screening (CCS) awareness, the practice of breast self-examination (BSE), and uptake of human papillomavirus vaccines. An internet-based cross-sectional questionnaire was utilized to obtain 251 consenting respondents. The mean age of respondents was 27.8 ± 6.91. Only 205 (81.7%) and 110 (43.8%) respondents have satisfactory levels of BCS, and CCS knowledge, respectively. While only 76 (30.3%) respondents had satisfactory BSE practice. Age range (26 – 32 years), tertiary education, and being single were demographic characteristics that influenced knowledge and practice. Though the respondents had a satisfactory knowledge level, screening uptake among respondents is very poor as only 32 (12.7 %) had ever been screened and only 19 (7.6 %) ever been vaccinated. The major reasons for poor screening uptake were “no symptoms†and “not aware of screening locationâ€. Most respondents (227, 90.4 %) are willing to go for screening if well oriented. This presents an opportunity to enhance awareness about screening and vaccination among Assam women. The media/internet and health practitioners can be leveraged to promote the uptake and utilization of screening services and BSE practice.

 

Doi: 10.28991/SciMedJ-2021-0304-5

Full Text: PDF


Keywords


Breast Self-examination; Cancer Screening; Early Detection; HPV; Awareness.

References


Global Cancer Observatory. Available online: https://gco.iarc.fr/ (accessed on March 2021).

Omotoso, O. E., Matariek, G., Omotoso, E. F., Matareek, A., Abdul-Rafee, G. M., Malakar, S., & Chutia, N. (2021). Practice of Breast Self-Examination and Knowledge of Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening. SciMedicine Journal, 3(3), 219–229. doi:10.28991/scimedj-2021-0303-3.

Heena, H., Durrani, S., AlFayyad, I., Riaz, M., Tabasim, R., Parvez, G., & Abu-Shaheen, A. (2019). Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices towards Cervical Cancer and Screening amongst Female Healthcare Professionals: A Cross-Sectional Study. Journal of Oncology, 2019, 1–9. doi:10.1155/2019/5423130.

WHO. Cervical cancer. WHO Africa. 2020. Available online: https://www.afro.who.int/health-topics/cervical-cancer (accessed on December 2020).

Gore, C., Kalliguddi, S., & Sharma, S. (2019). Knowledge, attitude, and practice of breast self-examination amongst female IT professionals in Silicon Valley of India. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 8(2), 568. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_315_18.

Yerpude, P. N., & Jogdand, K. S. (2013). Knowledge and practice of breast self-examination (BSE) among females in a rural area of South India. Natl J Community Med, 4(2), 329-332.

Lakshmi A, Devi S, Borra S, Kommula V. (2014). Awareness and Practice of Breast Self-Examination among Women in South India. Int J Curr Microbiol Appl Sci. 3(1):391–4.

Rani S. (2017). Assessment of Knowledge on Breast Self- Examination (BSE) among Women. Int J Adv Res. 5(9):200–7. doi:10.21474/IJAR01/5317

Ghosh, S., Mallya, S. D., Shetty, R. S., Pattanshetty, S. M., Pandey, D., Kabekkodu, S. P., … Kamath, V. G. (2020). Knowledge, Attitude and Practices towards Cervical Cancer and its Screening among Women from Tribal Population: a Community-Based Study from Southern India. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 8(1), 88–93. doi:10.1007/s40615-020-00760-4.

Reichheld, A., Mukherjee, P. K., Rahman, S. M., David, K. V., & Pricilla, R. A. (2020). Prevalence of Cervical Cancer Screening and Awareness among Women in an Urban Community in South India—A Cross Sectional Study. Annals of Global Health, 86(1). doi:10.5334/aogh.2735.

Thovarayi, S., Noronha, J. A., & Nayak, S. (2014). Knowledge of cervical cancer screening among rural Indian women: a cross sectional study. Journal of Nursing and Health Science, 3(3), 51-5.

Rahman, H., & Kar, S. (2015). Knowledge, attitudes and practice toward cervical cancer screening among Sikkimese nursing staff in India. Indian Journal of Medical and Paediatric Oncology, 36(2), 105–110. doi:10.4103/0971-5851.158840.

Sachdeva, S., Mangalesh, S., & Dudani, S. (2021). Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Breast Self-Examination amongst Indian Women: A Pan-India Study. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Care, 6(2), 141–147. doi:10.31557/apjcc.2021.6.2.141-147.

Malik, R., Vera, N., Dayal, C., Choudhari, A., Mudaliar, J., Noovao Hill, A., … Gunnarsson, R. (2020). Factors associated with breast cancer awareness and breast self-examination in Fiji and Kashmir India – a cross-sectional study. BMC Cancer, 20(1). doi:10.1186/s12885-020-07583-w.

Soliman H, Zackaria SS, Mohammed HR. (2021). Breast, cervix and colorectal cancer attitude, knowledge and practice among eligible female health care workers in Umm AL Quwain primary health care centres. International Research Journal of Public and Environmental Health, 8(1): 48-56. doi:10.15739/irjpeh.21.007.

Sevinc, N., Oral, B., & Korkut, B. (2020). Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors of Turkish Women on Breast and Cervical Cancer in Karabük Province, Turkey. Kesmas: National Public Health Journal, 15(4): 211-218. doi:10.21109/kesmas.v15i4.3865.

Saran, C., Sandhiya, S. K., Yogeshkumar, S., & Vignesh, T. (2020). Assessment of the Knowledge on Breast Self-examination among Women in Selected Tertiary Hospital at Kelambakkam, Kancheepuram District, Tamil Nadu, India. Medico Legal Update, 20(2), 183-187.

WHO. Breast Cancer. Available online: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/breast-cancer (accessed on July 2021).

Ewaid, S. H., Shanjar, A. M., & Mahdi, R. H. (2018). Knowledge and practice of breast self-examination among sample of women in Shatra/Dhi-Qar/Iraq. Alexandria Journal of Medicine, 54(4), 315–317. doi:10.1016/j.ajme.2017.12.002.

Parchuri, S. S., Palanki, S. D., Nirni, S. S., Atilli, S. S., Andra, V. V., & Ch, V. M. (2019). Impact of education for breast self examination in rural Indian women on early detection: Results of POC study. Annals of Oncology, 30(5), v76–v77. doi:10.1093/annonc/mdz240.054

Khargekar, N., Khanna, D., & Budukh, A. (2019). Knowledge, attitude, and practice about cervical cancer and its screening among community healthcare workers of Varanasi district, Uttar Pradesh, India. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 8(5), 1715-1719. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_143_19.

Nyamambi, E., Murendo, C., Sibanda, N., & Mazinyane, S. (2020). Knowledge, attitudes and barriers of cervical cancer screening among women in Chegutu rural district of Zimbabwe. Cogent Social Sciences, 6(1), 1766784. doi:10.1080/23311886.2020.1766784.


Full Text: PDF

DOI: 10.28991/SciMedJ-2021-0304-5

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2021 Olabode Ebenezer Omotoso, Sucheta Malakar, Nabanita Chutia, Ghadier Matariek, Ghada Mahmoud Abdel-Rafee