A review of breast cancer awareness among women in India: Cancer literate or awareness deficit?

Abstract

BackgroundBreast cancer is the most common female cancer worldwide including India, where advanced stages at diagnosis, and rising incidence and mortality rates, make it essential to understand cancer literacy in women. We conducted a literature review to evaluate the awareness levels of risk factors for breast cancer among Indian women and health professionals.MethodsA structured literature search using combined keywords was undertaken on bibliographic databases including MEDLINE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health (CINAHL) and SCOPUS. Searches were restricted to research published in English language peer-reviewed journals through December, 2014 in India.ResultsA total of 7066 women aged 15–70 years showed varied levels of awareness on risk factors such as family history (13–58%), reproductive history (1–88%) and obesity (11–51%). Literacy levels on risk factors did not improve over the 8-year period (2005–2013). On average, nurses reported higher, though still varied, awareness levels for risk factors such as family history (40.8–98%), reproductive history (21–90%) and obesity (34–6%). Awareness levels were not consistently higher for the stronger determinants of risk.ConclusionOur review revealed low cancer literacy of breast cancer risk factors among Indian women, irrespective of their socio-economic and educational background. There is an urgent need for nation- and state-wide awareness programmes, engaging multiple stakeholders of society and the health system, to help improve cancer literacy in India.

Level of awareness and knowledge of breast cancer in Nigeria. A systematic review

“…Most who reported low level of knowledge of clinical features and risk factors blamed the same for low level of performance of screens (23–28), while most who reported higher levels of knowledge of clinical features and risk factors reasoned that knowledge was not translated to health seeking behavior (29–32). In a simple term, collectively, the rate of performance of screening appeared to be resistant to changes in the levels of awareness or knowledge.This makes us share the view that awareness does not translate into knowledge of risks and knowledge of risks will not automatically translate to positive health-seeking behavior (6,28,33). We also share the view that there are other conditions (third factor(s)) which would be satisfied before awareness and knowledge can positively influence the rate of performance of screening as suggested in the health belief model.…”

Impact of Awareness on Health Status of Breast Cancer Patients

“…3 Breast Cancer incidence rates within India display a 3-4 fold variation across the country, with the highest rates observed in Northeast and in major metropolitan cities such as Mumbai and New Delhi. [4][5] Reasons for this variation include differences in demographic (e.g., education), reproductive (e.g., age at first child and number of children), anthropometric (e.g., adiposity) and life style factors (e.g., tobacco, smoking and alcohol use). Diagnosis at advanced stages of disease also contributes to high mortality rate among women due to Breast Cancer, which can be attributed to low levels of awareness (about treatment, appropriate diet during treatment, side effects of therapy and remedies and precautions after treatment), cumbersome referral pathways to diagnosis, limited access to effective treatment at regional Cancer centers and incomplete regimens.…”

Prevalence of risk factors for breast cancer in women aged 30 years and above in Mumbai

“…In addition the awareness about the risk factors for breast cancer and the need to undergo breast cancer screening is poor. [7][8][9][10][11] The department of Community Medicine is implementing a five year project on breast cancer awareness and screening programme. In this project an attempt is being made to create awareness and motivate women aged 30 years and above to undergo breast cancer screening.…”