Study Shows No Awareness of Breast Cancer Screening Among Women in Rural Areas in Coastal Karnataka Compared to Nearby Urban Areas

Papiya Bhattacharya; Varalakshmi Nadumane; Priyanca Mathur

doi:doi:10.11648/j.crj.20251304.12

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Study Shows No Awareness of Breast Cancer Screening Among Women in Rural Areas in Coastal Karnataka Compared to Nearby Urban Areas

Papiya Bhattacharya^*

, Varalakshmi Nadumane

, Priyanca Mathur

Published in Cancer Research Journal (Volume 13, Issue 4)

Received: 22 September 2025 Accepted: 11 October 2025 Published: 3 December 2025

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Abstract

Background and objectives: Breast cancer (BC) is the leading cancer in Indian women. This study examined relationships between demographic variables of women in rural Vitla and urban areas of Mangalore, Moodbidri and Puttur in Dakshina Kannada District and their awareness of BC screening policy, BC and health insurance. The objectives were to know if rural women have adequate knowledge of BC screening. Methods: 100 women cashew factory workers in Vitla were given an oral questionnaire in Kannada and 65 women from urban areas of Mangalore, Moodbidri and Puttur were given the questionnaire in English. Results: Answer sets were analysed, results indicated no significant correlation between respondents’ education and awareness about BC Screening, Self-Examination (BSE) and government screening policies in Vitla (Dakshina Kannada). No relationship was observed between age and awareness. Women in Vitla (Mangalore is 40 km away from Vitla), were aware of BC and had Ayushman Bharat cover; yet they had no idea about screening or its policy but agreed to screen if motivated. All urban women had received higher education, some had heard of BC screening and had health insurance yet were unwilling to screen. Others had not heard of screening but were willing to go. Interpretation and conclusions: India has a 2016 Government policy to screen BC which has not reached all rural women. It must be implemented effectively as early diagnoses and detection can reduce mortality in BC.

Published in	Cancer Research Journal (Volume 13, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.crj.20251304.12
Page(s)	159-166
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Breast Cancer, Screening Policy, Policy Review, Breast Self-examination, Early - Diagnosis, Policy Awareness

References

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APA Style

Bhattacharya, P., Nadumane, V., Mathur, P. (2025). Study Shows No Awareness of Breast Cancer Screening Among Women in Rural Areas in Coastal Karnataka Compared to Nearby Urban Areas. Cancer Research Journal, 13(4), 159-166. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.crj.20251304.12

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ACS Style

Bhattacharya, P.; Nadumane, V.; Mathur, P. Study Shows No Awareness of Breast Cancer Screening Among Women in Rural Areas in Coastal Karnataka Compared to Nearby Urban Areas. Cancer Res. J. 2025, 13(4), 159-166. doi: 10.11648/j.crj.20251304.12

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AMA Style

Bhattacharya P, Nadumane V, Mathur P. Study Shows No Awareness of Breast Cancer Screening Among Women in Rural Areas in Coastal Karnataka Compared to Nearby Urban Areas. Cancer Res J. 2025;13(4):159-166. doi: 10.11648/j.crj.20251304.12

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@article{10.11648/j.crj.20251304.12,
  author = {Papiya Bhattacharya and Varalakshmi Nadumane and Priyanca Mathur},
  title = {Study Shows No Awareness of Breast Cancer Screening Among Women in Rural Areas in Coastal Karnataka Compared to Nearby Urban Areas
},
  journal = {Cancer Research Journal},
  volume = {13},
  number = {4},
  pages = {159-166},
  doi = {10.11648/j.crj.20251304.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.crj.20251304.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.crj.20251304.12},
  abstract = {Background and objectives: Breast cancer (BC) is the leading cancer in Indian women. This study examined relationships between demographic variables of women in rural Vitla and urban areas of Mangalore, Moodbidri and Puttur in Dakshina Kannada District and their awareness of BC screening policy, BC and health insurance. The objectives were to know if rural women have adequate knowledge of BC screening. Methods: 100 women cashew factory workers in Vitla were given an oral questionnaire in Kannada and 65 women from urban areas of Mangalore, Moodbidri and Puttur were given the questionnaire in English. Results: Answer sets were analysed, results indicated no significant correlation between respondents’ education and awareness about BC Screening, Self-Examination (BSE) and government screening policies in Vitla (Dakshina Kannada). No relationship was observed between age and awareness. Women in Vitla (Mangalore is 40 km away from Vitla), were aware of BC and had Ayushman Bharat cover; yet they had no idea about screening or its policy but agreed to screen if motivated. All urban women had received higher education, some had heard of BC screening and had health insurance yet were unwilling to screen. Others had not heard of screening but were willing to go. Interpretation and conclusions: India has a 2016 Government policy to screen BC which has not reached all rural women. It must be implemented effectively as early diagnoses and detection can reduce mortality in BC.
},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY - JOUR
T1 - Study Shows No Awareness of Breast Cancer Screening Among Women in Rural Areas in Coastal Karnataka Compared to Nearby Urban Areas

AU - Papiya Bhattacharya
AU - Varalakshmi Nadumane
AU - Priyanca Mathur
Y1 - 2025/12/03
PY - 2025
N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.crj.20251304.12
DO - 10.11648/j.crj.20251304.12
T2 - Cancer Research Journal
JF - Cancer Research Journal
JO - Cancer Research Journal
SP - 159
EP - 166
PB - Science Publishing Group
SN - 2330-8214
UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.crj.20251304.12
AB - Background and objectives: Breast cancer (BC) is the leading cancer in Indian women. This study examined relationships between demographic variables of women in rural Vitla and urban areas of Mangalore, Moodbidri and Puttur in Dakshina Kannada District and their awareness of BC screening policy, BC and health insurance. The objectives were to know if rural women have adequate knowledge of BC screening. Methods: 100 women cashew factory workers in Vitla were given an oral questionnaire in Kannada and 65 women from urban areas of Mangalore, Moodbidri and Puttur were given the questionnaire in English. Results: Answer sets were analysed, results indicated no significant correlation between respondents’ education and awareness about BC Screening, Self-Examination (BSE) and government screening policies in Vitla (Dakshina Kannada). No relationship was observed between age and awareness. Women in Vitla (Mangalore is 40 km away from Vitla), were aware of BC and had Ayushman Bharat cover; yet they had no idea about screening or its policy but agreed to screen if motivated. All urban women had received higher education, some had heard of BC screening and had health insurance yet were unwilling to screen. Others had not heard of screening but were willing to go. Interpretation and conclusions: India has a 2016 Government policy to screen BC which has not reached all rural women. It must be implemented effectively as early diagnoses and detection can reduce mortality in BC.

VL - 13
IS - 4
ER -

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Author Information

Papiya Bhattacharya

Centre for Research in Social Sciences and Education, Jain (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, India; Visiting Faculty, Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Bangalore, India

http://orcid.org/0009-0006-6781-3219
Varalakshmi Nadumane

Sciences, Jain (deemed to be University), Bangalore, India

http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9979-5007
Priyanca Mathur

Centre for Research in Social Sciences and Education, Jain (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, India

http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2388-004X

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Bhattacharya, P., Nadumane, V., Mathur, P. (2025). Study Shows No Awareness of Breast Cancer Screening Among Women in Rural Areas in Coastal Karnataka Compared to Nearby Urban Areas. Cancer Research Journal, 13(4), 159-166. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.crj.20251304.12

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ACS Style

Bhattacharya, P.; Nadumane, V.; Mathur, P. Study Shows No Awareness of Breast Cancer Screening Among Women in Rural Areas in Coastal Karnataka Compared to Nearby Urban Areas. Cancer Res. J. 2025, 13(4), 159-166. doi: 10.11648/j.crj.20251304.12

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AMA Style

Bhattacharya P, Nadumane V, Mathur P. Study Shows No Awareness of Breast Cancer Screening Among Women in Rural Areas in Coastal Karnataka Compared to Nearby Urban Areas. Cancer Res J. 2025;13(4):159-166. doi: 10.11648/j.crj.20251304.12

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@article{10.11648/j.crj.20251304.12,
  author = {Papiya Bhattacharya and Varalakshmi Nadumane and Priyanca Mathur},
  title = {Study Shows No Awareness of Breast Cancer Screening Among Women in Rural Areas in Coastal Karnataka Compared to Nearby Urban Areas
},
  journal = {Cancer Research Journal},
  volume = {13},
  number = {4},
  pages = {159-166},
  doi = {10.11648/j.crj.20251304.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.crj.20251304.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.crj.20251304.12},
  abstract = {Background and objectives: Breast cancer (BC) is the leading cancer in Indian women. This study examined relationships between demographic variables of women in rural Vitla and urban areas of Mangalore, Moodbidri and Puttur in Dakshina Kannada District and their awareness of BC screening policy, BC and health insurance. The objectives were to know if rural women have adequate knowledge of BC screening. Methods: 100 women cashew factory workers in Vitla were given an oral questionnaire in Kannada and 65 women from urban areas of Mangalore, Moodbidri and Puttur were given the questionnaire in English. Results: Answer sets were analysed, results indicated no significant correlation between respondents’ education and awareness about BC Screening, Self-Examination (BSE) and government screening policies in Vitla (Dakshina Kannada). No relationship was observed between age and awareness. Women in Vitla (Mangalore is 40 km away from Vitla), were aware of BC and had Ayushman Bharat cover; yet they had no idea about screening or its policy but agreed to screen if motivated. All urban women had received higher education, some had heard of BC screening and had health insurance yet were unwilling to screen. Others had not heard of screening but were willing to go. Interpretation and conclusions: India has a 2016 Government policy to screen BC which has not reached all rural women. It must be implemented effectively as early diagnoses and detection can reduce mortality in BC.
},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY - JOUR
T1 - Study Shows No Awareness of Breast Cancer Screening Among Women in Rural Areas in Coastal Karnataka Compared to Nearby Urban Areas

VL - 13
IS - 4
ER -

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