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

BMC Cancer

Jyotishna Mudaliar¹  Ilisapeci Kubuabola²  Ronny Gunnarsson³  Numa Vera⁴  Abhay Choudhari⁵  Amanda Noovao Hill⁵  Chandra Dayal⁶  Rukaiya Malik⁷ 

[1] Northern Division Scabies Control Project, Labasa Fiji by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), Melbourne, Australia;Pacific Research Center for Prevention of Obesity and Non-Communicable Diseases, College of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, Fiji National University, Suva, Fiji;Primary Health Care, School of Public Health, Institute of Medicine, the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden;Region Västra Götaland, Research and Development Primary Health Care, Research and Development Center Södra Älvsborg, Boras, Sweden;School of Health Sciences, College of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, Fiji National University, Suva, Fiji;School of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, Fiji National University, Suva, Fiji;School of Nursing, College of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, Fiji National University, Suva, Fiji;Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia;

关键词: Breast cancer;    Breast cancer awareness;    Breast self-examination;    Breast awareness;    Education;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12885-020-07583-w

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundIn 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.MethodsA 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.ResultsData 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.ConclusionsThe 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.

【 授权许可】

CC BY