Exploring breast cancer knowledge, screening practices, needs among rural women, and challenges of community health workers in breast cancer screening in Tamil Nadu: A community-based mixed-method approach.

Abstract

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer among the women with high mortality in India. The objectives of the study were to assess the knowledge of BC, understand the perceptions and practises of BC screening, to do a need assessment of the people in the community regarding BC screening and to identify the challenges faced by the community health workers in BC screening. A community-based mixed-method study was conducted at Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, from November 2023 to August 2024, and primary data were collected from 401 women aged 18-55 years. Structured questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data. The need assessment on breast cancer screening was conducted by focus group discussions (FGD). Key informant interviews were conducted to explore the challenges faced by field workers in BC screening. The study found that 71.3% of the women were aware of breast cancer. The women who were aware of BC considered lump in breast (78.3%) as the most common symptom. More awareness programs, organising screening camps at the community level, affordable cost of screening tests were some of the needs addressed during the FGD. Lack of motivation among the women, ignorance due to absence of symptoms, shyness were some of the challenges faced by the community health workers. Knowledge of symptoms and screening practises of BC were low which necessitates the enhancement of knowledge on breast cancer among the rural women which in turn will lead to early diagnosis of BC.