Factors associated with breast cancer awareness and breast self-examination in Fiji and Kashmir India – a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background In low-income countries breast cancer awareness (BCA) is essential to reduce the proportion of advanced stage presentations of breast cancer. There is a lack of studies using multivariable techniques to explore factors related to BCA in low-income countries. The objective of this study was to identify to what extent women in Fiji and Kashmir, India have BCA and practice breast self-examination (BSE) as well as factors associated with BCA and BSE. Methods A survey of women aged ≥18 years was conducted in Fiji and Kashmir, India to assess BCA and rates of BSE. Comparison between Fiji and Kashmir was done using student’s t-test for continuous data and chi-square for binary data. Factors associated with BCA and BSE were analysed using a multivariable logistic regression for Fiji and Kashmir separately. Results Data were collected from 399 and 1982 women in Kashmir and Fiji, respectively. Of 1968 women in Fiji 57% were deemed to have an acceptable BCA compared to only 7.3% of 395 women in Kashmir. Having some education was associated with having BCA with an odds ratio of 4.7 (1.7–13) in Fiji and 10 (1.7–59) in Kashmir. Of 1976 women in Fiji 40% had tertiary education while 40% of 392 women in Kashmir had no education at all. The marital status was similar in both samples (n = 1973 and 395) with 68–69% being married and 21–26% being single. The lack of female doctors or nurses with whom to discuss issues, was perceived as a problem in both countries. Conclusions The key finding is an association between having any level of education and BCA. This correlation was much stronger than for a family history of breast cancer and BCA. Hence, general education to illiterate women may reduce the proportion of women in low-income countries presenting with advanced-stage breast cancer.

Awareness levels of breast cancer among female university and medical college students in Sylhet city of Bangladesh

“…Some earlier studies provided lower levels of knowledge about early warning signs than our research. 11 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 That could be due to the education level 48 and the availability of sources of breast cancer information for the study participants. Our research discovered adequate knowledge about screening approaches of breast cancer among medical students and insufficient knowledge among university students.…”

“…Some earlier studies provided lower levels of knowledge about early warning signs than our research. 11,[36][37][38][39] That could be due to the education level 48 and the availability of sources of breast cancer information for the study participants. the other hand, practicing BSE was least commonly done by university students because of insufficient knowledge.…”

Study of Diagnostic Delay among Symptomatic Breast Cancer Patients in Northern India: A Mixed-Methods Analysis from a Dedicated Breast Cancer Centre

“…In a study from Kashmir, India, authors found breast cancer awareness and breast self-examination in 7.35% women. They also concluded that breast cancer awareness was linked to the general education of the women (Malik et al, 2020). As majority of our patients did not have any formal education/ training or exposure about how to practice breast selfexamination, the practice itself might have been rendered ineffective.…”

An examination of variables associated with breast cancer early detection behaviors of women

“…İnformation points in two studies conducted on the same scale in Turkey were detected to be moderate. [65][66][67][68][69][70][71][72][73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80][81] In other studies in which women's breast cancer knowledge levels were evaluated with different scales, it was stated that their knowledge level was moderate. 34-82-83-84-85-86-87 In two studies conducted on young women in Ethiopia, the breast cancer knowledge level of women was found as low.…”