Beliefs, Perceptions and Barriers related to Cancer among Gynecologic Cervical Cancer (CaCx) Patients in Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

The present paper is based upon the case studies which explore the psycho-social characteristics of Cervical Cancer (CaCx) patients being treated at RMLIMS, Lucknow. The beliefs and perceptions of the patients regarding causes, symptoms, treatment and its outcome, transmission, other’s perception, and recurrence have been analysed. The terms being used by the patients to refer to their disease, the symptoms they have experienced and the mechanism of disease manifestation according to them have also been presented. The demographic data of the patients (n=25) has been analysed and the relationship between age group, annual family income and education level of the patients and the beliefs has been studied. The correlation coefficient (r) and p-values thereof indicate that there is no significant relationship between the age group, annual family income and education of the patients with the beliefs they have. it can be concluded that there are certain other factors that influence the belief system of the Cervical Cancer (CaCx) patients.