Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice towards breast cancer and its screening among women in India: A systematic review

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in India causing increased mortality. Lack of awareness leads to detection of breast cancer in advanced stages and is difficult to cure then. Objective: A systematic review was conducted to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice of breast cancer and its screening among women in India. Methodology: Literature search was done on electronic databases including PubMed and Google Scholar. Specific keywords related to breast cancer were used such as breast cancer or breast carcinoma AND awareness or knowledge or attitude or education or practice AND women or females AND India. Searches were limited to articles published in English language in the last 10 years. Results: Fifteen studies were selected with a total of 7545 women between the age of 14 and 75 years. Study population varied from health-care professionals, rural and urban women to general population. Majority of the women were married with illiteracy levels ranging from 5.6% to 42.8%. The knowledge of breast cancer was seen to be 62.99%. Knowledge and attitude toward breast cancer screening were 78.67% and 71.10%, respectively. Most reviewed studies showed a significant association of the knowledge of breast cancer with the education level, marital status, and age of study participants. Conclusion: Majority of the population knew about breast cancer and had low percentage for practice of screening methods. Programs on information about breast cancer are required. Women from all populations need to be motivated for positive change toward proper screening, early detection, and treatment of breast cancer.