Strengthening breast cancer screening program through health education of women and capacity building of primary healthcare providers

BackgroundGlobally and in India, breast cancer is a prevalent malignancy. India saw 178,361 new cases and 90,000 deaths in 2020. Timely detection is vital, highlighting the importance of Breast Self-Examination (BSE), especially in low-income settings. Strengthening BSE in awareness and screening efforts is urgent. Despite awareness, practical application lags due to women’s reluctance. Effective execution demands partnerships, a multi-sectoral strategy, and training grassroots workers.ObjectiveTo address these challenges, the present study aims to strengthen the breast cancer screening program using BSE strategy and adopting a referral mechanism for the diagnosis and treatment of suspect cases.MethodsA community-based study occurred in specific districts of Rajasthan (2017–2022), enhancing breast cancer screening for women aged 30–65. It involved healthcare providers and local women, utilizing tools like the MT-DM-GP6620 Breast Inspection Model, educational booklets, and semi-structured schedules. The strategy encompassed knowledge assessment, capacity building for healthcare providers, BSE training, increasing women’s breast cancer awareness, suspect case referrals, and phone-based follow-up.ResultsOur study encompassed 157,225 women aged 30–65 in Jodhpur, Jalore, and Pali districts. Initial breast self-examination (BSE) awareness was below 1%. BSE training reached 218,978 women using booklets and demonstrations, with 72% aged 30–65 and the rest 15–30. Follow-ups reinforced BSE, leading to 745 identified suspect breast cancer cases, mostly due to painless lumps (332 cases). Capacity-building workshops involving 824 medical and paramedical staff strengthened early breast cancer detection in Jodhpur and Jalore, in collaboration with the district health department.ConclusionThe study model’s success suggests its applicability in other Rajasthan districts, Indian states, and global breast cancer prevention programs. While positive outcomes were evident, challenges related to culture, cost, and benefits warrant consideration. The approach prioritized early detection through community engagement, reducing patient and government burdens. Community involvement and healthcare engagement were pivotal, with breast self-examination proving effective for enhancing awareness and early detection. Promoting BSE education can significantly enhance breast cancer awareness and early detection

Impact of High Temperature on Germination, Seedling Growth and Enzymatic Activity of Wheat

Global warming has increased the temperature significantly over a large extent both spatially and temporally. The threat of heat stress during the germination and seedling establishment stages in the wheat crop is now more prevalent than ever before. The present experiment assessed the effect of elevated temperature on the germination and early seedling growth of wheat genotypes. The seeds were sown under four temperatures, viz., 20 °C, 25 °C, 30 °C and 35 °C; the germination, seedling vigor and enzyme activities in 8-day-old seedlings were assessed. The temperature significantly influenced germination and early seedling growth. The germination percentage at 20 and 25 °C was statistically on par with and higher than at 30 and 35 °C. The seedling vigor parameters were maximum at 25 °C and showed a reduction at higher temperatures. Genotypic differences were observed for early heat stress as the genotypes WH 730, WH 1123 and HD 2967 showed tolerance towards heat stress during germination, whereas the genotypes PBW 725 and WH 1105 were susceptible. Antioxidant enzyme activities in seedlings increased with the rise in temperature. Catalase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase enzymes showed increased activities at higher temperature levels