Cancer Stigma among Adults residing in Kageshwori Manohara Municipality, Kathmandu, Nepal

Abstract

Cancer being the fifth leading cause of death in Nepal. A number of cancer cases are growing everyday which contributes morbidity, financial hardship and mortality. Cancer stigma across the care continuum, hinders preventive health-seeking, screening uptake and treatment adherence, and care engagement. A cross-sectional research design was used to assess the cancer stigma among adults in Aalapot, Kageshwori Municipality, Kathmandu. Total 294 adult was interviewed by using cancer stigma scale (CASS). Systematic random sampling technique was used for data collection. Data was analyzed by using SPSS-22. Descriptive and Inferential statistics was used for data analysis. The results of the study founds low stigma 164 (55.8%) level among the respondents. However, 130 (44.2%) respondents had higher stigma whereas highest stigma present in the severity domain which suggests persistent negative perceptions while low stigma in the policy opposition domain reflects greater acceptance of policies supporting people with cancer. Brahmin/Chhettri felt low cancer stigma than others. Married respondents had higher cancer stigma than unmarried. There was a statistical association between the selected socio-demographic variables such as ethnicity, marital status and occupation with level of stigma.The findings indicate that overall cancer stigma was low but varied across different domains. These findings highlights the need for educational interventions to reduce misconceptions and further decrease cancer related stigma. Improving health literacy reduces sociocultural fears that delay the diagnosis.