Takalani Grace Tshitangano
University of Venda
Title: Home Based Carers’ General Knowledge Of Cancer In A Rural Village Of South Africa
Biography
Biography: Takalani Grace Tshitangano
Abstract
Despite the fact that cancer kills millions of people in Africa than AIDS, TB or Malaria, the lack of public awareness campaigns severely limits health system response to this disease. In South Africa home based carers educate rural villagers about diseases and their prevention. This study therefore assessed home based carers’ general knowledge of cancer in a rural village of South Africa.To assess home based carers’ general knowledge of what cancer is; general signs and symptoms of cancer; general causes or risk factors of cancer; general screening tests and general cancer treatments options. This study adopted a qualitative approach using descriptive phenomenology design. One focus group comprising of 13 rural village female home based carers between the ages 30 and 45 years were purposively interviewed using unstructured questions. Permission to enter the village was obtained from the local chief and informed consent was obtained from participants.Participants did not know what cancer is; the majority of participants knew the general signs and symptoms of cancer; very few participants knew the general risk factors or causes of cancer; all participants did not know the general screening tests of cancer. And very few participants knew the general treatment options for cancer. Home based carers lack general knowledge of cancer. The home based carers’ general lack of cancer knowledge affect negatively their duty of educating the rural villagers about this disease. Cancer education particularly regarding risk factors or causes of cancer should be intensified in rural areas.