Background &
objectives:
Lack of
awareness is one of the major reasons for the high
morbidity and
mortality associated with
cancers. The present study was aimed to evaluate the
awareness of prevalent
cancers among the
rural population in a district of north
India and its
association specifically with
mobile phone usage.
Methods:
Using a stratified random sampling
technique, households in three villages of Gautam Buddh Nagar district of
India were selected. A house-to-house
survey on
cancer awareness was conducted among
adults in selected households and data were analyzed to check for the
association of such an
awareness with
sociodemographic factors and
internet usage.
Results:
The study included 59
males and 145
females, with majority (115) being in the
age group of 18-30 yr. Although most (96.5%) of the participants were aware of
cancer, the common
risk factors and
warning signs of
cancer were known to only a few. Specific
risk factors for cervical and
breast cancers were, however, not known to a majority (79.9% and 72.2%). A significant
association between the
awareness of general
risk factors and
warning signs as well as specific aspects including
risk factors for
breast, cervical and
oral cancer,
HPV vaccine and the
education level of the participants (P<0.05 for all).
Knowledge of
risk factors,
warning signs and
cancer prevention modalities was higher among
mobile phone users
who accessed
internet for
health information. There was no significant
association between
age group and
cancer risk factor awareness, though
females were more aware of the
risk factors for
breast cancer (P=0.002). Interpretation &
conclusions:
The findings of this study highlight the existing low level of
awareness of cervical and
breast cancers among the
rural population. The
association of
cancer awareness with
education level and
mobile phone-based
internet usage suggests the potential utility of
internet-based platforms such as m-
health programmes for
cancer prevention activities