Socio-Demographic Profile of Cervix Cancer Patients of Chhattisgarh

Cervix cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality amongst gynaecological cancers worldwide. India has the highest number of cervix cancer patients in the world with 1,32,000 new cases per year and 74,000 deaths per year (Laikangbam et al., 2007). India accounts for 27% of the total cervix cancer deaths. The present study was conducted on 200 married women of age group 25–80 years to assess the socio-demographic and life style variables associated with cervix cancer among women of Chhattisgarh. They were diagnosed patients of cervix cancer attending the Indira Gandhi Regional Cancer Centre and Gynaecology Department of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Hospital, Raipur (C.G.). More than half (62.5%) of the study population belonged to the age group of 31–50 years. 87.5% respondents got married before the age of 18 years, 60.61% had their first child before the age of 18 years and 33.5% respondents had 5 or more issues. 96.5% women used cloth rather than pads during menstrual cycle and of that 61.66% women used their menstruation clothes for more than 7 months up to 1 year whereas 21.76% respondents used the same cloth for more than 1 year. 47% women had tobacco chewing habit. 30% women reported white discharge, 27% reported blood discharge while 40.5% reported both as the first symptom of the cervix cancer. Early age at marriage, low socio-economic status, multi-parity, use of tobacco and lack of menstrual hygiene are potential risk factors observed in the study population. This emphasises the need for integrating extensive awareness building measures in cancer control programmes. A multi-pronged approach is essential to cover women belonging to various socio-economic groups.