Screening for Breast Cancer in a Low Middle Income Country: Predictors in a Rural Area of Kerala, India

• DOI: 10.7314/apjcp.2014.15.5.1919
• Publication Date: 2014-07-10T07:44:16Z
• Authors: Aswathy Sreedevi; Mariya Amin Quereshi; Beteena Kurian; Leelamoni Kamalamma
• Keywords: Breast cancer awareness; Breast Cancer Screening; Cancer screening

Background: In India, breast cancer is the leading malignancy among women in a majority of registries. Therefore it important to understand screening practices and its predictors, including rural areas with high female literacy good health indices. Materials Methods: A cross-sectional study multistage sampling was conducted Vypin Block, Ernakulam district, Kerala, India. Four Panchayats (self administration units) were randomly chosen woman every second household invited participate from tenth ward each. Thus total 809 interviewed. Results: The repondents (82.1%) not aware risk factors about third (37.9%) symptoms cancer. About half population studied (46.6%) had undergone screening. Age (35-50 years), being married, professionals as source information working significant predictors Logistic regression showed that older yrs) more likely practice Out never screened, (35%) desirous doing it, but for various reasons 53.5% willing screen. identified those grouped into knowledge 66 (43.4%), resources 23 (15.1%) psychosocial 32(21.1%) factors. Unmarried significantly express related all three domains. Conclusions: This spite absence population-based program, some type years) particular At this critical juncture, quality awareness initiative can help consolidate gains tackle knowledge, resource barriers.