Identifying barriers to early diagnosis of breast cancer and perception of women in Malwa region of Punjab, India

Objective

The aim of present study is to identify the breast cancer screening barriers among the women with breast cancer of Malwa region of Punjab, India. The study was conducted at three government hospitals representing almost all districts of Malwa region.

Methods

The quantitative research design was followed using empirical research methods. Study was carried out by one-to-one interview by the field investigator and research assistant. Total of 363 breast cancer patient has been interviewed through the scheduled questionnaire and results has been recorded for further analysis. In this study, five barriers are described namely as personal barriers, socio-cultural barriers, economic barriers, health-system barriers, and treatment barriers which contains various questions regarding barriers to breast cancer screening. Univariate analysis methods have been used for the analysis to access the socio-demographic profile of women. Data has been obtained with the help of 5-point liker scale. Binary logistic model was chosen.

Results

Majority of participants were in the age groups 50–< 60 years (38.6%, 140/363) and ≥ 60 years (31.1%, 112/363). Majority of these women (47.4%, 171/363) were illiterate and most of them were housewives. The major barriers to breast cancer screening faced by most of the women were having no knowledge about screening services (90.9%, 329/363), the importance of early diagnosis (90.9%, 329/363), different screening methods (95.5%, 347/363) and place of availing screening services (91.2%, 330/363) misguided belief in God and fate (81.5%, 295/363) and preferring duties than taking care of health (70.2%, 254/363). Education qualification (odds ratio [OR] 0.74, β’ = −0.309, t = −5.357, P = 0.000) and socioeconomic class (OR 1.43, β’ = 0.354, t = 3.399, P = 0.001) were found to be significant determinant of the barriers among women.

Conclusion

The survey was conducted in the women between the age 40–60 years and as an outcome, the unawareness about screening services, fatalistic attitude, fear of being diagnosed with the cancer, low per capita income was found out significant factors that restricted the women for early check-up for the breast cancer.