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WORLD ANTHROPOLOGICAL UNION

CONGRESS 2024​

Paper

Breast cancer awareness in Rural India: A Comprehensive review

presenters

    Debashmita Banerjee

    Nationality: India

    Residence: Delhi

    University of Delhi , Department of Anthropology

    Presence:Face to Face/ On Site

    Srishti Tripathi

    Nationality: India

    Residence: India

    Department of Anthropology, University of Delhi, India

    Presence:Online

    Prof. Benrithung Murry

    Presence:Online

Breast cancer poses a significant public health concern in India, characterized by rising incidence rates, particularly affecting women at a younger age compared to Western countries. The lack of widespread awareness about breast cancer symptoms and risk factors, coupled with limited access to screening programs, contributes to late-stage diagnoses and increased mortality rates. Cultural factors, including stigma surrounding discussions about breast health, further impede early detection and timely medical intervention. Inadequate healthcare infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, poses challenges to effective cancer care and treatment. Financial constraints add to the burden, hindering access to necessary medical services. The absence of a comprehensive national cancer registry exacerbates the difficulty in accurately assessing the scope of the problem. Genetic factors also play a role, necessitating a more nuanced understanding of the disease for targeted interventions. Addressing this public health concern requires a holistic approach involving awareness campaigns, improved healthcare infrastructure, increased screening accessibility, and efforts to destigmatize breast health issues. Collaborative endeavors by government entities, non-governmental organizations, healthcare professionals, and communities are crucial to mitigate the impact of breast cancer on the Indian population. The present paper will discuss the public healthcare awareness related to breast cancer in India through systematic literature search. The outcome will provide doctors and policy makers to understand the healthcare awareness issues especially in rural India.

Keywords:

Awareness, Breast Cancer, Public health care, rural population, India.