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Biswas S, Syiemlieh J, Nongrum R, Sharma S, Siddiqi M. Impact of Educational Level and Family income on Breast Cancer Awareness among College-Going Girls in Shillong (Meghalaya), India. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2020; 21:3639-3646. [PMID: 33369463 PMCID: PMC8046293 DOI: 10.31557/apjcp.2020.21.12.3639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer among women in India and shows an increasing trend. The mammography screening seems unfeasible as a public health service in India. Thus, breast self-examination (BSE), followed by clinical breast examination (CBE), is the affordable method to downstage BC. A cross-sectional study was conducted with senior school and college-going girls in Shillong (Meghalaya) to study the impact of girls’ academic level and family income on breast cancer knowledge and the prevalence of BC’s known risk factors in girls. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was employed to collect relevant information. The data were analysed using statistical software SPSS version 22. The categorical data presented as frequency (%) and the comparison made using Chi-square or Fisher exact test. Results: (i) 78.2% girls knew about breast cancer, 19.2% of these were aware of BSE, and 22.9% of BSE knowing ever performed it (ii) Awareness of breast cancer and BSE, and its practice is significantly associated with their academic level and family income (iii) The consumption of alcohol beverages and physical activity of girls was positively associated with educational level and family income (iv) Body mass index (BMI) was weakly associated with family income with an insignificant relationship with academic level (v) oily food consumption related inversely with the level of education irrespective of family income (vi) there was a positive correlation between parents education and family income. Conclusions: The results show a severe lack of breast cancer knowledge in senior school and college-going girls under the survey. To spread community awareness, we suggest a public health policy-driven educational intervention through culturally relevant mass/social media on the risk factors of breast cancer and practice of BSE. It is also recommended that dedicated facilities be created for breast cancer early diagnosis in the public health system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sutapa Biswas
- Cancer Foundation of India, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
| | | | | | - Shashi Sharma
- National Institute of Cancer Prevention & Research, NOIDA, U.P, India
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Shankar A, Roy S, Rath GK, Chakraborty A, Kamal VK, Biswas AS. Impact of Cancer Awareness Drive on Generating Awareness of and Improving Screening for Cervical Cancer: A Study Among Schoolteachers in India. J Glob Oncol 2019; 4:1-7. [PMID: 30241246 PMCID: PMC6223415 DOI: 10.1200/jgo.17.00074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in India. Our study assessed the level and impact of awareness programs in the adoption of safe practices in prevention and early detection. Methods This assessment was part of a Pink Chain Campaign, the mission of which is to fight cancer. During cancer awareness events from 2013 to 2015 at various women’s colleges in different parts in India, a pretest related to cervical cancer was followed by an awareness program. A post-test was conducted 6 months and 1 year later. Results A total of 872 of 985 teachers participated in the study, for a response rate of 88.5%. Mean age of the population was 42.4 years. There was a significant increase in the level of knowledge regarding cervical cancer at 6 months, which was sustained at 1 year. Regarding cervical cancer screening, knowledge and practice of the Papanicolaou (Pap) test as a screening test for cervical cancer among teachers were changed significantly at 6 months and 1 year. More than 75% of teachers were educated by physicians about the Pap test. At the time of the post-test, there was a significant change in alcohol and smoking habits. The main reasons for not undergoing a screening test were ignorance (50%), lethargic attitude (44.8%), and lack of time (34.6%). Conclusion The level of knowledge of cervical cancer was poor. A significant increase in the level of knowledge of cervical cancer among the population was found after this study. To inculcate safe lifestyle practices, awareness programs should be conducted more widely and frequently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Shankar
- Abhishek Shankar and Goura Kishor Rath, Dr BR Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital; Abhishek Shankar, Goura Kishor Rath, and Vineet Kumar Kamal, All India Institute of Medical Sciences; Shubham Roy, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi; Abhijit Chakraborty, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Cancer Research Institute; and Aalekhya Sharma Biswas, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology, Kolkata, India
| | - Shubham Roy
- Abhishek Shankar and Goura Kishor Rath, Dr BR Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital; Abhishek Shankar, Goura Kishor Rath, and Vineet Kumar Kamal, All India Institute of Medical Sciences; Shubham Roy, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi; Abhijit Chakraborty, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Cancer Research Institute; and Aalekhya Sharma Biswas, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology, Kolkata, India
| | - Goura Kishor Rath
- Abhishek Shankar and Goura Kishor Rath, Dr BR Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital; Abhishek Shankar, Goura Kishor Rath, and Vineet Kumar Kamal, All India Institute of Medical Sciences; Shubham Roy, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi; Abhijit Chakraborty, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Cancer Research Institute; and Aalekhya Sharma Biswas, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology, Kolkata, India
| | - Abhijit Chakraborty
- Abhishek Shankar and Goura Kishor Rath, Dr BR Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital; Abhishek Shankar, Goura Kishor Rath, and Vineet Kumar Kamal, All India Institute of Medical Sciences; Shubham Roy, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi; Abhijit Chakraborty, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Cancer Research Institute; and Aalekhya Sharma Biswas, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology, Kolkata, India
| | - Vineet Kumar Kamal
- Abhishek Shankar and Goura Kishor Rath, Dr BR Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital; Abhishek Shankar, Goura Kishor Rath, and Vineet Kumar Kamal, All India Institute of Medical Sciences; Shubham Roy, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi; Abhijit Chakraborty, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Cancer Research Institute; and Aalekhya Sharma Biswas, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology, Kolkata, India
| | - Aalekhya Sharma Biswas
- Abhishek Shankar and Goura Kishor Rath, Dr BR Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital; Abhishek Shankar, Goura Kishor Rath, and Vineet Kumar Kamal, All India Institute of Medical Sciences; Shubham Roy, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi; Abhijit Chakraborty, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Cancer Research Institute; and Aalekhya Sharma Biswas, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology, Kolkata, India
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