Shema Raj Manjapallikkunnel, Anjana Nalinakumari Kesavan Nair, Chintha Sujatha
Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Among Mothers of Infants Regarding Breastfeeding
Journal of family & reproductive health
delays breast cancer care one important attributable factor breast cancer diagnosed advanced stages systematically studied many countries study assessed magnitude factors associated delays breast cancer care sri lanka symptom detection treatment initiation interviewed 800 consecutively sampled female breast cancer patients diagnosed within last 12 months using contextspecific questionnaires medical records defined cutoff times delays using international guidelines features national health system careseeking patterns country delays estimated proportions 95 confidence intervals presented presentation delay ii diagnosis delay iii treatment delay looked sociodemographic healthcare availability accessibility individual level associated delays using multivariate logistic regression p value 005 define statistical significance nearly twothirds patients reported presentation delay 633 95 confidence interval 599666 diagnosis delay 367 95 confidence interval 334400 also seen among onethird whereas treatment delays 132 95 confidence interval 108155 less common low family monthly income odds ratio 63 95 confidence interval 4293 poor knowledge breast cancer odds ratio 27 95 confidence interval 1838 associated presentation delay poor health literacy odds ratio 17 95 confidence interval 1127 need make two visits first contact health provider prior diagnosis odds ratio 72 95 confidence interval 46111 associated diagnosis delays whereas directly contacting appropriate specialised health provider lump detected reduced diagnosis delay odds ratio 03 95 confidence interval 0204 undergone core biopsy odds ratio 05 95 confidence interval 0308 mammogram odds ratio 06 95 confidence interval 47327 reduced likelihood treatment delays study findings show delays breast cancer care sri lanka much lower lowermiddle income countries however significant room improvement especially relation excellence quality care improving access mammography services periodical estimation breast cancer delays enabling temporal comparisons probably provide useful information policy makers improving care delivery breast cancer patients hence recommended future assessments designed comparisons different treatment modalities would provide information assist policy decisions care improvement