Assessment of cancer stigma level among the healthy population in Western Maharashtra: a cross-sectional study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20253322Keywords:
Cancer, Social stigma, Caregivers, Health policyAbstract
Background: Cancer stigma in India is a major hurdle for patients and families due to inadequate awareness and education. It results in misconceptions, fear, and avoidance of treatment. It brings social, emotional, and economic challenges for the caregivers, as well as isolation and discrimination among the patients. This study aims to assess the level of cancer stigma among the healthy population who may become caregivers or face cancer themselves in the future.
Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted among 267 healthy individuals visiting tertiary care hospital in Western Maharashtra, India, from March 2023 to August 2023. Data was collected through a self-administered questionnaire, using the validated cancer stigma scale (CASS). Microsoft Excel and statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 26 used for statistical analysis and median, mean and standard deviation was calculated.
Results: Levels of cancer stigma were moderate but varied across the six subdomains in our study. The attitudes of respondents were reflected through their agreement with various statements, where 35% of people agreeing on “cancer patient being liable and accountable for their condition”, approximately15% believed that “once you’ve had cancer you’re never normal again”, while 9% of respondent felt that “cancer devastates the life of those it touches”. Furthermore 45% of healthy individuals expressed that “It is not acceptable to refuse the bank loan for the cancer patient”. About 43% people strongly agree on “policy opposition” i.e. “more government funding should be spent on care and treatment of those with cancer”. People strongly disagree on any kind of awkwardness or avoidance related to cancer patient. Significant differences in policy opposition are observed among participants with distinct employment status (p value <0.05).
Conclusions: The study indicates the enduring presence of cancer stigma among healthy population in Western Maharashtra, with the observed highest stigma related to severity of the disease and policy opposition. This study establishes a fundamental reference for comprehending the existing levels of stigma among healthy individuals who may serve as caregivers in the future.
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