Assessing cancer communication and identifying prospective health interventions among the ethnic Mizo population

Abstract

Background: Cancer prevalence reports reveal Aizawl district in Mizoram to be inflicted with the highest age-adjusted cancer incidence rate in India. The present study aims to provide a critical view of health communication in Mizoram and evaluate cancer communication. Method: A field survey (n = 400) with structured interview schedules in Aizawl district was conducted. Results: The data reveals high awareness of cancer and the mass media as the top sources for cancer information. The result also highlights the preference of entertainment news as compared to health news. Conclusion: It identifies the need for developing efficient, tailored cancer communication strategies that are customized for a specific population and for dissemination of cancer science beyond health institutions. Improving health news coverage on cancer risk factors, church-based health interventions, and novel strategies to strengthen societal knowledge, at both individual and in groups, could be an effective shift in cancer communication and interventions in Mizoram.

Keywords

• Cancer communication
• Mizo
• Health interventions
• Tailored communication
• Social cognitive theory