Impact of Health Education Intervention on Uptake of Random Screening for Cervical & Breast Cancers among Rural Women in Villages of Gurgaon Cluster, Haryana, India: A Cross-Sectional Study

Rural women's treatment-seeking behaviour and uptake for preventative screening for breast and cervical cancers are influenced by disease awareness and socio-cultural practices. This study was conducted to investigate rural women's awareness and knowledge of cervical and breast cancers, as well as their attitudes and uptake for primary screening for these diseases in Gurgaon villages selected at random by our financial partner, DLF Foundation, Gurgaon. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 603 women, ages 21 to 65, who attended women's cancer awareness and screening camps, where they received random primary screening for breast and cervical malignancies. A total of 235 women (39%) were examined for cervical and breast cancers out of 603 women who participated in various camps hosted in various villages within Gurgaon between 2014 and 2016. In addition, 365 women (61%) were taught how to perform a self-breast assessment. Out of 235 people evaluated, 88 (37.44 percent) were discovered to have genital infections, for which they were provided free medicines. Out of 235 screened women, 99 (42%) were suspected of having cervical or breast abnormalities and were referred for further testing (46 women for Pap smear, 33 women for USG Abdomen, and 20 cases for Mammography) to confirm the disease and provide treatment recommendations. Only 38 cases, on the other hand, followed the follow-up protocol. Specially designed, easy-to- understand leaflets (in Hindi) on the four women’s cancers (Endometrial Cancer, Breast Cancer, Ovarian Cancer and Cervical Cancer) were distributed to all participating women. The most important finding was that rural women had little knowledge of cervical and breast cancer screening and were completely unaware of the symptoms, risk factors, and preventive screening for these malignancies. In order to reduce the burden of cervical and breast cancers in India, effective education and large-scale primary screening are required. It was discovered that low family finances and lack of transportation make it difficult for women to get to health centres while they are experiencing the distressing symptoms of these diseases. The study found that cancer awareness programmes, as well as on-site primary screening for cervical and breast cancers using simple, cost-effective approaches, will benefit rural women greatly, given the majority of them never get these malignancies screened.