Clinical Breast Cancer Screening- A Camp-Based Study Among Rural Women in North Kerala

Abstract

BACKGROUND Early diagnosis of breast cancer is of extreme significance in improving the survival rates and quality of life. Unfortunately, studies have revealed that a major proportion of women from low-income countries are still not breast aware. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this study, Clinical Breast Examination (CBE) was done. In addition, we assessed the knowledge, attitude and practice of Breast Self-Examination (BSE). A cross-sectional study with quantitative method of data collection was conducted in a village in North Kerala. The study population was all women aged 20 years and above and who resided in the village for 6 months and more and they were motivated to attend the camps by community health workers from the same village. RESULTS Out of the 319 women who attended the CBE camps, 301 (94%) had heard of breast cancer and 113 (36%) had heard of it from community workers during their survey. Around 63% of the women knew at least one symptom of breast cancer while 73% did not know any risk factor. Only 234 (73%) had heard of BSE. Only 137 (43%) knew the right technique of BSE. Out of the 184 women who did BSE, 124 (67.4%) did it to examine breasts regularly, 5 (2.7%) did it because they had a family history of breast cancer, 52 (28.3%) following classes by community workers, 2 (1.1%) because their friends had breast cancer and 1 (0.5%) following a resected lump. Out of the 135 women who did not practice BSE, 36 (26.7%) did not know the method, 85 (63%) did not think it was important, 10 (7.4%) had no symptoms and 4 (2.9%) were scared of finding a lump. The women with either breast or axillary lumps (3.4%) were referred for mammography. CONCLUSION Utilisation of the services of primary healthcare facilities for opportunistic screening and health awareness classes by trained nonmedical community personnel should become main activities in our future policies. They should be trained for providing BSE training to women at their doorstep. This simple approach could reduce the burden of the disease to a significant extent.

Knowledge attitude practice on breast self-examination in a rural area in North Kerala

“…This is high when compared to studies done in University of Buea and Abakaliki and less compared to another study in Buea and screening study among rural women in North Kerala. 7,14,19,16 In our study, only 12.6% responded that BSE should be performed monthly which is similar to study done in Trichy and is less when compared to studies in Lagos, Ethiopia and Cameroon. 4,13,18,19 That BSE must be done 10 days after onset of menstruation by women with regular menstruation was known only to 7.8% of the respondents.…”

Community health workers and early detection of breast cancer in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic scoping review of the literature

“…On completion of the full-text review, 16 studies remained for inclusion in the study, 2 33-45 of which one originated from the search of the grey literature. 37 It is important to note that two sets of studies included in this review were linked. First, the study by Chowdhury et al 2 was a pilot feasibility study for the larger study published by Ginsburg et al 2 34 Second, the study by Kohler et al 33 was a qualitative exploratory study of the larger project reported by Gutnik et al 36 38 Where do CHWs currently have a role in breast cancer early detection?…”

“…Awareness raising and education The most common role for CHWs described across 14 studies was in awareness raising and education. 2 33-40 42-45 47 Activities included CHWs conducting door-to-door home outreach visits in the community to raise awareness about breast cancer, 33 35 40 45 providing educational talks at community health centres and communal areas (such as cafés and places of worship), 33 36 38 handing out pamphlets and information leaflets, 37 showing motivational videos on mobile phones 2 34 and teaching women how to perform their own BSE. 39 43 44 47 For example, in the linked studies by Gutnik et al 36 and Kohler et al, 38 four CHWs delivered educational talks in the waiting rooms at local clinics to both men and women.…”

Can urban Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) be change agent for breast cancer awareness in urban area: Experience from Ahmedabad India

“…[27] Utilization of our existing primary healthcare infrastructure and its facilities for opportunistic screening and health awareness classes by trained nonmedical community personnel such ASHA, Anganwadi workers should be recommend for our future policies. [28] Diseases Control Priorities 3 also says that community health workers who conduct screening and detection of early-stage disease are likely to be easily welcomed. [29] This simple approach would be a promising way to reduce the burden of the disease significantly.…”

“…[29] This simple approach would be a promising way to reduce the burden of the disease significantly. [28] It is a real time to think for the ASHA as a change agent for breast cancer.…”