Cancer Care Providers’ Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Women’s Cancer in Peru

Abstract

Abstract Cancer Care Providers’ Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Women’s Cancer in Peru Lucia J Rodriguez-Alvizo Chair of the Supervisory Committee: Deepa Rao Department of Global Health In Peru, cancer is the second leading cause of death with an expected increase in new cases. Women comprise 64.4% of new cases with breast and cervical cancer having some of the highest prevalence, mortality, and morbidity. This study utilized mixed-methods to analyze cancer care providers’ knowledge and attitudes during a 2015 Pan American Health Organization’s conference on women’s cancers. Surveys measured knowledge, stigma, and fear as potential barriers to quality of cancer care before and after conference participation. In focus group discussions, providers identified barriers and facilitators to breast and cervical cancer detection and treatment. Paired t test analyses demonstrated an increase in knowledge after conference participation. In addition, providers identified individual (fear, shame, anticipated stigma), interpersonal (gender norms, marital relationships, and lived experience of social network), organizational (structural health system barriers and community based communication), community (stigma), and policy (Plan Esperanza) level barriers and facilitators. Thus, our study showed that educational conferences could be an avenue to increasing provider knowledge. Also, the providers highlighted the importance of social networks, family and social support when strengthening and developing efforts to engage women in care.