A study on breast cancer knowledge and awareness among rural women in Kashmir region, Jammu and Kashmir

Abstract

Background: Esophageal cancer has quite a high incidence in Kashmir among both sexes, with a male to female ratio about 2:1, after that comes lung and stomach cancer in men while in women breast and ovarian cancer seems to follow. Breast cancer still is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women worldwide, and it accounts for around 15% of cancer related deaths. In India, it ranks as the second most common cancer among women, and the incidence is said to be about twice as high in rural than in urban areas. Since health literacy is often low in rural regions , checking what people already know about breast cancer risk factors becomes really important for early identification and prevention.

Objective: To evaluate the current awareness level on breast cancer and its risk factors among rural women in the Kashmir valley.

Methods: We carried out a cross sectional study involving 400 rural women who were chosen randomly, after taking informed consent. The information was obtained with help of a properly developed validated questionnaire, it covered sociodemographic background and knowledge about breast cancer risk factors. After collecting, the data were analyzed using suitable statistical methods.

Results: Most of the respondents were from the 25–34 years age band. Also a notable share of participants did not show enough awareness about several major breast cancer risk factors, such as family history, getting older, nulliparity, obesity, smoking, and unhealthy dietary habits.

Conclusion: Rural women in the Kashmir valley show pretty clear gaps in awareness about breast cancer risk factors, sort of like they are missing key points here and there. More targeted health education and community based awareness initiatives are needed, not just general information, so knowledge levels can rise, early detection practices get more attention, and in the end the burden of breast cancer among women in this region can be reduced.