Determinants of Compliance in a Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial on Screening of Breast and Cervix Cancer in Mumbai, India

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the efficacy of screening by low-cost technology in down-staging and reducing mortality due to breast and cervix cancer. METHODS: The present trial is a community-based, cluster randomised controlled cohort study on screening for breast and cervix cancers (clinical breast examination and visual inspection of the cervix after application of 4% acetic acid). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses are conducted to identify the predictors of participation in screening. RESULTS: The average compliance is 71.43 and 64.93% for breast and cervix cancer screening, respectively, with the highest compliance in round 1. At the end of 3 screening rounds, 94 and 84% of the eligible women were screened at least once for breast and cervix cancer, respectively. Younger women, women from other than Hindu and Muslim communities, school level-educated women, women belonging to lower-income families, Marathi-speaking women, married women and women who had previously consulted for any breast or gynaecological complaints had higher compliance to participation in screening. CONCLUSIONS: Good compliance rates to screening have been demonstrated in the trial, reflecting acceptance of the study by the society, which has implications while translating the trial into a programme.