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International Journal of Recent Trends in Science and Technology, ISSN 2277-2812 E-ISSN: 2249-8109

Volume 5, Issue 1, 2012 pp 24-34

Research Article

Impact of Health Intervention on Cancer Awareness of Mumbai Urban Slum Population

Sarang Pedgaonkar^*, GD Velhal^**, Hemant Mahajan^***, Bhuwan Sharma^****

^*Assistant Professor, A.C.P.M. Medical College, Dhule, Maharashtra, INDIA.

{^**Additional Professor, ^****Junior Resident} T N Medical College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, INDIA.

Objectives: 1) To assess the awareness about Cancers in an Urban Slum population of Mumbai. 2) To assess the impact of health intervention on awareness of slum population about various Cancers. Materials and Methodology: A community based descriptive epidemiological interventional study was conducted at Cheetah Camp urban slum which is a field practice area of Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, of TN Medical College Mumbai during January 2008 to October 2009. Population above 40 years of age were included in this study. Sample was selected using cluster sampling method. The information was gathered by personal interview using semi-structured questionnaires. Results: Out of 525 study participants Out of 525 study participants, males were 50.48%. 169 (32.2%) participants thought that cancer is a disease; whereas 109 (20.6%) participants were not able to describe cancer. Regarding general initial symptoms of cancer, 272 (51.8%) don’t knew any symptom. Commonest risk factor known to participants (450, 85.7%) was tobacco consumption. Awareness of participants about prognostic factors, screening facilities, screening centres of cancers, treatment centres of cancer was very poor. After health intervention improvement in the knowledge of study participants about various cancers was seen. Conclusion: Awareness of study participants about cancers was very poor. There is a need for awareness generation programs to educate population about various common cancers. Propagation of correct messages and promotion of early detection of cancers should be stressed.