A Community Based Cross-Sectional Study on Gender Differences in Cancer Awareness Among Rural Population in South India

Authors

  • Rajan Rushender Chitharaj SRM Medical College Hospital & Research Centre, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Tamil Nadu
  • Dinesh Kumar Ganesan Saveetha Medical College & Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Tamil Nadu
  • RamKumar Boopathirajan SRM Medical College Hospital & Research Centre, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Tamil Nadu https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2763-6570
  • Gokul Kumar Krishnan SRM Medical College Hospital & Research Centre, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Tamil Nadu

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47203/IJCH.2019.v31i04.015

Keywords:

Cancer, Rural population, Sex differences

Abstract

Background:  Cancer is one of the major non communicable diseases and in India, there is a lack of awareness regarding cancer symptoms and their screening methods especially among women in rural areas Aim & Objective: To assess the gender differences in the cancer awareness among the study population. Settings and Design: Community based cross-sectional study was conducted in the field practice area of department of community medicine on 414 adults selected by systematic random sampling. Methods and Material: The awareness level regarding the etiology, common sites, presenting complaints, mode of diagnosis, treatment, prevention & methods of prevention of cancer and relationship between gender and awareness levels were evaluated Statistical analysis:  Chi-square test was used to study the association between knowledge and gender Results: A total of 414 subjects were included in the final analysis. Majority (55.80%) were females. In the study, 94.69% had heard of cancer and mostly (60.87%) through Television. Breast (11.4%), Oral (10.9%) and other sites (48.1%) were the commonly known sites of cancers. Conclusion: There was no significant difference in knowledge regarding cancer site, cause, treatment and prevention between females and males.

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Published

2019-12-31

How to Cite

1.
Rushender Chitharaj R, Kumar Ganesan D, Boopathirajan R, Kumar Krishnan G. A Community Based Cross-Sectional Study on Gender Differences in Cancer Awareness Among Rural Population in South India. Indian J Community Health [Internet]. 2019 Dec. 31 [cited 2024 Mar. 28];31(4):513-20. Available from: https://iapsmupuk.org/journal/index.php/IJCH/article/view/1123

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Original Article