Field Experience Critique
A huge public health burden among developing countries is cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is a major health concern for women in India. It is considered the second most common cancer for women (Mehrotra & Yadav, 2022). Cervical cancer takes place in the cervix which is located in the lower part of the uterus that attaches to the vagina. Different strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection, contribute to obtaining cervical cancer (Mayo Clinic). HPV is preventable and does not become cancerous instantly.
Women in low- and middle-income households are typically affected due to a lack of awareness and education on the human papillomavirus. Women hold their families together but partaking in household duties and nurturing their children. Oftentimes, they put their health to the side by ignoring pains and not seeking medical attention at the start of the problem to care for their families. There are also financial and transportation issues when trying to reach a medical facility.
It is seen that there are more deaths among Indian women than in any country. About 65,000 women die from cervical cancer. There are no nationwide screening programs in India which leads to disparities in treatment, cancer screenings, and survival (Screedevi, Javed, and Dinesh, 2015). Often women wait till HPV progresses without knowledge into cancerous cells before receiving help and by that time it is already too late. Due to the barrier in education, many women over the age of 21 are not receiving needed pap smears every three years.
The Public Research Institute of India (PHRII) has made it its initiative to promote the well-being and quality of life of women through research and advocacy. This non-profit organization runs the Prerana Reproductive Health Clinic which provides cancer screening to low-income women in and near Mysore. They have mobile clinics and outpatient services that cater to the needs of women and children in the community.
On May 31st, 2023, I had the opportunity to provide assistance at a cervical cancer camp with PHRII. My duties consisted of helping set up the mobile medical camp and taking each patient's measurements in weight, height, hip, and waist. I was not able to directly observe the screening process with Dr. Vijaya due to not wanting to make the women in the community uncomfortable. However, Dr. Vijaya thoroughly explained the anatomy, methods, and significance of cancer screening. She placed a huge emphasis on the different prevention techniques. Primary prevention is vaccines while secondary involved screening such as pap smears, liquid-based cytology, and the lugol iodine test. One of the methods used to screen at the camp was a visual inspection by acetic acid (VIA) which allows doctors to inspect the cervix for cancerous growth.