DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2014.v02i03.048

Pages: 1105-1109

Cancer is most fearful disease and more than two-thirds of cancer patients are in advanced and incurable stage at the time of diagnosis. Public awareness about cancer can play a big role in prevention and early detection of cancer. In this perspective, the present study aimed to assess awareness about risk factors and warning signals of cancer in an urban area of Jodhpur, India. The cross-sectional study, conducted in 2012, used a structured questionnaire to collect data from 880 men and women of 20 years and above were interviewed using a pretested open questionnaire after having their consent.Variables included age, religion, education, socio economic status, family type, knowledge of risk factors and warning signals of cancer. The common risk factors known by majority of study participants were tobacco chewing (64.2%), smoking (59.7%) and alcohol (56.1%). There was poor knowledge regarding other risk factors of cancer. Study participants had poor knowledge regarding different warning signals of cancer.People were not much aware of common warning signals of cancer, which are most important for early diagnosis and treatment. Male study participants had far better knowledge than female study participants of different warning signals of cancer. There is a great need for increasing the awareness in masses by collaborative action of public health specialists, health professionals and through IEC activities.