Cancer Prevention and Control in Bangladesh: Mass Awareness is Needed | Chapter 1 | New Insights into Disease and Pathogen Research Vol. 5

Here we discuss the mass population perception and life style practices on cancer in a group of Bangladeshi people. Based on our conducted survey findings, we highlighted the important issues to address for reducing the cancer incidence of the country. In 2016, we reported a cancer knowledge and perception survey findings conducted on Bangladeshi people. The survey questionnaire was developed based on the WHO country level cancer risk assessment report. A total of 407 respondents were invited randomly using social networks and personal communication to take part into the survey. We included 253 respondents with information of knowledge and current life style practices towards cancer prevention. We found that only one-third of the respondents irrespective of age groups- No vs. Yes: 96 (37.95%) vs. 157 (62.05%), p<0.00001 had known that cancer can be prevented by modifying life styles. Female respondents had remarkably lower level of knowledge and perception on specific cancer prevention knowledge compared to their male counterpart. Irrespective of age groups and gender, about 67% (n=169) and 45% (n=113) of the respondents knew about the impact of chewing or smoking tobacco and non-food grade preservatives, chemicals, ripening agents on developing cancer, respectively; however, only one-fourth (n=73, 28.65%) respondents knew that physical inability or obesity is a risk factor for cancer. Stopped/never smoking, avoid consuming food with food additives/preservatives, alcohol consumption were found the three most common practices among the respondents towards cancer prevention. The study provides important baseline information on preventable cancer risk perception in Bangladesh. In this chapter, we comprehend our survey findings in details including the cancer screening perception and practices of the respondents. Our results indicate that a comprehensive cancer awareness program is needed to reduce the cancer burden in Bangladesh. 

Author(s) Details

Dr. Kanchan Chakma,
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chittagong, Bangladesh and Health Awareness Network for Disease Prevention (HAND), USA.

Dr. Chandra Nath Roy,
Health Awareness Network for Disease Prevention (HAND), USA and Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

Dr. Anjan Kuman Das,
Delta Medical College and Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Dr. Mohammad Aminul Hoque,
Department of Gastroenterology, Colonel Malek Medical College, Manikgonj ,  Bangladesh

Dr. Asish Kumar Sarkar
 Department of Radiology and Imaging, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh

View Book :- http://bp.bookpi.org/index.php/bpi/catalog/book/196