“A Study to Assess the Knowledge Regarding Preventive Measures of Selected Cancers Among Women’s in Selected Areas of Pune City”

Abstract

Title: “A study to assess the knowledge regarding preventive measures of selected cancers among women’s in selected areas of Pune city”.

Objectives:  1. To assess the knowledge regarding preventive measures of selected cancers among women’s. 2. To associate the findings with selected demographic variables.

Research methodology: A non-experimental quantitative research design is used in the study. The study was conducted in selected areas of Pune city, Maharashtra, India. Total 200 women’s was selected for data collection. A non-probability purposive sampling technique was used to collect data from samples. The tool constructed was consisting of demographic variables to identify the samples and a set of 24 self-structured knowledge questionnaires regarding the study.

Result: The findings showed that majority 38% participants were of age 26-35 years, Majority 33.5% were graduates, 32.5% were having higher secondary education, 32% were having primary education and 22% were having secondary education. Majority 41% were homemaker, 32% were daily wage earner, 19.5% were having business and 7.5% were government worker. Majority 54% were vegetarian and 46% were non-vegetarian. Majority 40% had the habit of misery, 24% had habit of tobacco, 16% had habit of alcohol, 15% were had habit of smoking and 5% were had any other habits. Majority 60% had no information and 40% had information about the early signs of cervical cancer. Majority 55% had no any information whereas 45% had information about early signs of ovarian cancer. Majority 55% had no information about early signs of breast cancer and 45% were having information about early signs of breast cancer. Majority 81.5 % had no history of cancer and 18.5 % had history of cancer. Findings related to the level of knowledge regarding preventive measures of selected cancers (cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, breast cancer) among women's.  61% had average knowledge, 30% had good knowledge whereas 9 % had poor knowledge. The overall mean was 14.18 with SD 3.6. Analysis of the women’s knowledge score and their demographic variables does not shown any significant association as the p value was larger than 0.05. The process of reliability was done from 29/01/2024 to 30/01/2024 in the area of Bibwewadi, Pune, and Maharashtra, India. The data was collected from 10% of the total sample size and reliability was established by Test- retest method. Using Karl Pearson’s method, correlation formula was computed and ‘r’ value was found to be 0.811. Thus tool was found to be reliable. Pilot study was conducted on 20 people in order to test the present study tools for its validity, clarity, applicability, and it was found to be feasible Conclusion: A descriptive study was done to assess the knowledge regarding preventive measures of selected cancers among women’s which shown that majority 61% where having average knowledge. The statistical analysis revealed that there is no any association between women’s knowledge score and their demographic variables.