Barriers for early detection of cancer amongst Indian rural women

CONTEXT: Breast and cervical cancer are the most common causes of cancer mortality among women worldwide, but actually they are largely preventable diseases. Healthcare providers in developing countries regularly see women with advanced, incurable cancers. Health of a rural Indian women and her access to health facility is compromised due to sociocultural, economical, and environmental factors. AIMS: To know the problems associated with early detection of cancers in rural women. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Rural area and cross-sectional. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Study subject: Women of 35 years and above. Exclusion criteria: Not willing to participate. Sample size: All eligible women of selected villages. SAMPLING TECHNIQUE: Random selection of villages. Study duration: 2 months. Study tools: Pretested questionnaire. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Percentages, χ(2) test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Awareness about symptoms, possibility of early detection, available tests, possibility of cure of disease was low. Main barrier for screening was cognitive, that is, ‘don’t know’ answer by 83.99% women for cancer cervix, 84.93%, for cancer breast, and 67.26% for oral cancer. Awareness score was significantly associated with age (χ(2) = 17.77, P = 0.001), education (χ(2) = 34.62, P = 0.000), and income (χ(2) = 16.72, P = 0.002); while attitude score with age (χ(2) = 16.27, P = 0.012) and education (χ(2) = 25.16, P = 0.003). Practice score was significantly associated with age (χ(2) = 11.28, P = 0.023), education (χ(2) = 32.27, P = 0.003), and occupation (χ(2) = 10.69, P = 0.03). Awareness, attitude, and practice score of women having history of cancer in family or relative was significantly high than women without history. CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive barrier was the important barrier which has to be taken care of.