Improving Access to Control of Diseases for Women

Improving Access to Control of Diseases for Women

The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the model of delivering CHW-driven home-based comprehensive NCD control services aimed to prevent premature deaths from cardio-vascular diseases, stroke and breast, cervix and oral cancers in the hard-to-reach women.

Specific objectives of this study are the evaluation of:

1. The social, cultural and behavioral factors that impact the uptake of the NCD control services among rural women using the Rapid Assessment, Response and Evaluation (RARE) approach;

2. The feasibility and acceptability of the strategy to deliver the following NCD control services to the rural women at their homes by the trained CHWs:

   • Counselling of the tobacco habitués to give up the practice
   • Early detection of hypertension and diabetes to ensure prompt and regular treatment
   • Creating breast awareness and ensuring access to prompt diagnosis and treatment of the women with symptoms suggestive of breast cancer
   • Screening for cervical cancer by self-collected HPV test and ensuring prompt treatment of screen detected precancers and cancers
   • Screening of the habitual tobacco/alcohol users for oral cancer by OVE and ensuring prompt treatment of screen detected precancers and cancers

Inclusion Criteria:

• Women between 30 to 60 years residing in the villages of the Gogunda block in the district of Udaipur in Rajasthan, India, will be eligible to participate.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Women suffering from debilitating illnesses, pregnant women and women refusing to participate will be excluded.