Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Human Factors
Date Submitted: Oct 25, 2023
Date Accepted: Nov 8, 2024
Unveiling Socio-cultural Barriers to Breast Cancer Awareness among South Asians; A Case Study of Bangladesh and West Bengal, India
ABSTRACT
Breast cancer is one of the most predominant cancers in South Asia (Bangladesh and West Bengal, India), like many other parts of the world. Early detection plays a vital role in managing the disease and reducing its impact on individuals’ lives. However, achieving mass awareness about breast cancer in diverse societies presents unique challenges, as there is no one-size-fits-all approach, and cultural norms and socioeconomic conditions differ significantly between communities. To understand and identify the root causes of breast cancer awareness barriers in our selected regions, we conducted comprehensive and open-ended interviews with individuals from the local populations. Through a rigorous qualitative data analysis, we identified 20 significant obstacles, which we categorized into distinct societal levels: individual, family, local society, health care system, and country/region. This detailed understanding of the barriers informs us of the need for culturally relevant tailored strategies to address each level. In light of our research findings, we propose practical solutions to overcome these barriers, emphasizing the importance of context-specific approaches. Additionally, we explore the potential of social media as a powerful tool for disseminating mass awareness while respecting and aligning with the region’s cultural and socioeconomic norms. By adopting this sensitive and well-informed approach, we aim to enhance the early detection of breast cancer and contribute to reducing its impact on South Asian communities.
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© The authors. All rights reserved. This is a privileged document currently under peer-review/community review (or an accepted/rejected manuscript). Authors have provided JMIR Publications with an exclusive license to publish this preprint on it's website for review and ahead-of-print citation purposes only. While the final peer-reviewed paper may be licensed under a cc-by license on publication, at this stage authors and publisher expressively prohibit redistribution of this draft paper other than for review purposes.