1Department of Community Medicine, Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, Karad (Maharashtra) India
2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, Karad (Maharashtra) India
3Department of Surgery, Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, Karad (Maharashtra) India
4Director of Nursing Services, Krishna Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Karad (Maharashtra) India
*Corresponding Author: Dr. Asha K. Pratinidhi, Emeritus Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, Karad-415110 (Maharashtra) India
Online published on 19 August, 2019.
Screening of cervix and breast cancer is not considered a routine activity at PHCs.
To study a three-stepped approach of creating awareness, train ANMs while screening and possibly continue educational and screening activity after withdrawing the mobile team.
A mobile team at KIMS deemed to be University, Karad, Maharashtra was formed of specialists from concerned faculties. Four PHCs were randomly selected from the Satara district. Three selected ASHA workers motivated fifty women >30 years to attend camp at PHC on a prefixed date. Pre-training and post-training assessments of knowledge among women and health care workers, training of two ANMs and Medical Officer per PHC in cervical and breast cancer screenings by VIA, VILI, and CBE respectively while screening was done by the mobile team during intensive weekly activity of three months at each PHC. After withdrawal of the team, PHCs were visited to see continuity of educational and screening activities.
Of 1440 women motivated by 12 ASHA workers from 4 PHCs, 1037 attended awareness programme and 430 got screened. Of the 37 VIA positive and 17 lump in breast cases identified, one cervical and two breast cancers confirmed cases were managed. Nonsurgical treatment was given there. Out of four PHCs, the activity of education and screening was continued satisfactorily at two, sporadically at one and absent at one PHC.
There was significant improvement in knowledge scores of community and health-care workers after the awareness programme. The ANMs could be trained in screening cervical and breast cancer. Education and screening activities continued after one year of withdrawal of the mobile team in 50% of PHCs. An entire district should be studied to find possible solutions of screening cervical and breast cancer as routine activities at PHCs after this pilot project.
Cervical Cancer, Breast Cancer, Colposcopy
