Journal of Gynecology and Reproductive Health
ISSN: 2574-2728 | DOI: 10.64030/2574-2728
Sunita Ghike, Anand Pathak, Kamlesh Madankar, Jueely Pathak, Sharayu Chaoji, Pradnya Pathak, Narendra Ghike and Malini Joshi
Background: Cancer is a major global public health challenge, accounting for nearly 20 million new cases and 9.7 million deaths worldwide in 2022. In India, breast, cervical, and oral cancers constitute a substantial proportion of cancers among women. Despite the availability of effective preventive measures and screening programmes, awareness regarding cancer risk factors, early warning signs, hereditary cancer, genetic counselling, and screening remains inadequate, resulting in delayed diagnosis and poorer outcomes. Structured educational interventions may improve cancer literacy and encourage preventive health practices.
Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of a structured cancer awareness and counselling intervention in improving knowledge regarding common cancers, hereditary cancer, genetic counselling, cancer prevention, and screening among adult women aged 30–70 years.
Methods: A prospective questionnaire-based pre–post educational study was conducted among 300 women aged 30–70 years residing in urban and rural areas of Nagpur, Maharashtra, India. Participants completed a structured, validated questionnaire before and immediately after a standardized cancer awareness and counselling session covering common cancers, risk factors, warning symptoms, screening, HPV vaccination, hereditary cancer, genetic counselling, and preventive practices. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 29.0. Paired t-tests assessed changes in awareness scores, while Cohen’s d measured effect size. Associations between baseline awareness and sociodemographic variables were analysed using one-way ANOVA.
Results: Structured counselling produced significant improvements across all awareness domains (p<0.001). Mean general awareness scores increased from 3.99 ± 1.54 to 5.42 ± 0.74, genetic awareness from 5.56 ± 1.92 to 7.10 ± 1.14, and overall awareness from 9.55 ± 3.07 to 12.52 ± 1.47. Large effect sizes were observed for general awareness (d=0.99), genetic awareness (d=0.83), and overall awareness (d=0.99). Significant improvements were also observed in knowledge regarding cancer risk factors, screening methods, HPV vaccination, hereditary cancer, genetic counselling, and cancer-related misconceptions.
Conclusion: A structured cancer awareness and counselling programme significantly improved knowledge regarding common cancers, hereditary cancer, cancer prevention, and screening among adult women. Integrating such educational interventions into routine healthcare services and community-based cancer prevention programmes may strengthen early detection, promote