E-poster Presentation 2014 World Cancer Congress

Pink Chain Campaign: Awareness regarding risk factors, symptoms and treatment facilities for cancer in different states of India. (#965)

Ankita Mrs Jaiswal 1 , Abhishek Dr Shankar 2 , Keshav Mr Barnwal 1 , Sneha Ms Upadhyaya 1
  1. Punarjeevan Bihar, Nawada, BIHAR, India
  2. Radiation Oncology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, Delhi, India

Background and Context:

 Cancer is the leading type of cancer in women and has become a public health problem.Delay in diagnosis and treatment of cancer diminishes chance of survival. awareness regarding risk factors, symptoms and treatment facilities may be effective in better outcome.

Aim:

 To study the level of awareness and knowledge about cancers and associated risk factors among households in different states of India.

Strategy/Tactics:

 In the study 2000 households were interviewed from six states in india regarding level of knowledge about cacers.

Programme/Policy Process:

 Knowledge of cancers other than those related to tobacco was very low (prostate 18%, colon 9% ) among the communities, with a poor awareness of common signs and symptoms. The knowledge varied from state to state. It is found that the major source of information related to cancers was television (38%) followed by friends and relatives (36%). Only about 15 % of respondents had knowledge about cancer awareness camps organized in their districts but they did not have knowledge about the organizers of the camp.

Outcomes/What was learned:

It is important to create awareness among community through educational programs on cancer prevention, preventable cancer risk factors, benefits of early diagnosis, and availability of screening facilities.