Get 20M+ Full-Text Papers For Less Than $1.50/day. Start a 14-Day Trial for You or Your Team.

Learn More →

The Effect of Access to Information on Beliefs Surrounding Breast Cancer in South Africa

The Effect of Access to Information on Beliefs Surrounding Breast Cancer in South Africa Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women in South Africa. There is little knowledge of beliefs to help identify key areas to improve support and education in this demographically and culturally diverse population. Women with a variety of demographic and socioeconomic characteristics accessing care for breast cancer were asked their agreement to statements of knowledge and beliefs about breast cancer. Of the 259 participants, positive statements of medical cure (87.9%) and family support (90.5%) were most commonly believed. Beliefs in faith-based cure and alternative treatments were also present (79.5 and 24.9%, respectively). Negative beliefs were initially more likely in black patients (RR: 11.57, 95%CI: 1.37–97.69) as was belief of cancer as a punishment (RR: 6.85, 95%CI: 1.41–33.21). However, in multivariate analysis adjusting for age, education and access to information (by newspaper, Internet and confidence in reading and writing), there was no difference between racial groups or hospital attended. Reading a newspaper or accessing the Internet was the most protective against belief that cancer was a punishment or curse (Internet use: aRR: 0.12, 95%CI: 0.02–0.99), belief in alternative methods of cure (newspaper use: aRR: 0.51, 95%CI: 0.27–0.96) and the negative beliefs of death and disfigurement (Internet use: aRR: 0.00, 95%CI: 0.00–0.00). Positive expressions of cure and beating cancer were found equally in all women. Attitudes and beliefs about cancer showed little independent demographic or socioeconomic variance. Negative beliefs were mitigated by access to information and confidence in literacy. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Journal of Cancer Education Springer Journals

The Effect of Access to Information on Beliefs Surrounding Breast Cancer in South Africa

Download PDF
8 pages

Loading next page...
 
/lp/springer-journals/the-effect-of-access-to-information-on-beliefs-surrounding-breast-jEICAiaFOF

References (20)

Publisher
Springer Journals
Copyright
Copyright © 2017 by American Association for Cancer Education
Subject
Biomedicine; Cancer Research; Pharmacology/Toxicology
ISSN
0885-8195
eISSN
1543-0154
DOI
10.1007/s13187-017-1234-3
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women in South Africa. There is little knowledge of beliefs to help identify key areas to improve support and education in this demographically and culturally diverse population. Women with a variety of demographic and socioeconomic characteristics accessing care for breast cancer were asked their agreement to statements of knowledge and beliefs about breast cancer. Of the 259 participants, positive statements of medical cure (87.9%) and family support (90.5%) were most commonly believed. Beliefs in faith-based cure and alternative treatments were also present (79.5 and 24.9%, respectively). Negative beliefs were initially more likely in black patients (RR: 11.57, 95%CI: 1.37–97.69) as was belief of cancer as a punishment (RR: 6.85, 95%CI: 1.41–33.21). However, in multivariate analysis adjusting for age, education and access to information (by newspaper, Internet and confidence in reading and writing), there was no difference between racial groups or hospital attended. Reading a newspaper or accessing the Internet was the most protective against belief that cancer was a punishment or curse (Internet use: aRR: 0.12, 95%CI: 0.02–0.99), belief in alternative methods of cure (newspaper use: aRR: 0.51, 95%CI: 0.27–0.96) and the negative beliefs of death and disfigurement (Internet use: aRR: 0.00, 95%CI: 0.00–0.00). Positive expressions of cure and beating cancer were found equally in all women. Attitudes and beliefs about cancer showed little independent demographic or socioeconomic variance. Negative beliefs were mitigated by access to information and confidence in literacy.

Journal

Journal of Cancer Education – Springer Journals

Published: May 24, 2017

There are no references for this article.