Rural and urban South African women's awareness of cancers of the breast and cervix
Rural and urban South African women's awareness of cancers of the breast and cervix
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DOI：
10.1080/1355785022000038588
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发表时间：
2002-05-01
影响因子：
3.1
通讯作者：
Pillay, AL
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Pillay, AL
Objective.调查旨在提高农村和城市地区非洲裔妇女对乳腺癌和宫颈癌的认识，特别是考虑到这一群体所经历的压迫和剥夺。随机抽取农村和城市妇女各70名，采用结构式问卷调查她们对乳腺癌和宫颈癌的知识和态度，并对筛查方案进行评价。样本的年龄范围为21-59岁，平均年龄为35.23岁。几乎五分之一的女性没有听说过这些癌症，几乎一半的女性不知道乳房自我检查技术。超过三分之一的人不知道乳腺癌检测，一半以上的人不知道宫颈癌检测。老年妇女和农村妇女的认识水平普遍较低，她们也更倾向于咨询传统治疗师（而不是医生）关于乳房肿块或异常宫颈出血的问题。调查结果令人极为关切，是种族隔离后南非的一项重大挑战。我们必须大力推行促进健康的计划，尤其是考虑到及早发现和治疗的贝内，这一点再强调也不为过。考虑到农村妇女所在社区的保健资源不足以及她们面临的社会经济困难，还需要特别关注农村妇女。必须增强这些社区妇女的权能，使她们了解自己的健康和疾病预防选择。
Objective. The investigation sought to establish the awareness of breast and cervical cancers among women of African descent, in both rural and urban areas, especially considering the oppression and deprivation experienced by this group.Design. Two groups of randomly selected women in a rural (n = 70) and urban (n = 70) area were interviewed using a structured questionnaire assessing their knowledge and attitudes regarding breast and cervical cancer and screening options.Results. The age range of the sample was 21-59 years with a mean of 35.23 years. Almost one-fifth of the women had not heard of these cancers, and almost half were unaware of the breast self-examination technique. Over one-third did not know about tests for breast cancer and more than half were unaware of tests for cervical cancer. Generally lower awareness levels were found in older and rural women who were also significantly more inclined to consult traditional healers (than doctors) about lumps in their breast or abnormal cervical bleeding.Conclusion. The findings are of great concern and represent a significant challenge in post-apartheid South Africa. The need for vigorous health promotion programmes cannot be sufficiently emphasised, especially in view of the bene fits of early detection and treatment. There also needs to be particular focus on rural women, considering the inadequate health care resources in their communities and the socio-economic hardships facing them. Women in these communities must be empowered with knowledge about their health and illness prevention options.