Lack of screening services has further negative consequences on the care that women give to their children. For example, if a mother dies as early as age 25 due to cancer, the chances for the survival of their children are reduced. It is reported that the probability of survival up to the age of ten if the mother is alive is 89% and 24% if the mother is dead (Ginsburg, 2013). If screening services were available, such deaths would be reduced and women would not be robbed of their productive years in Malawi.
Screening programs have been reported as offering an opportunity for women to socialize and facilitate awareness for the services (Winkler et al., 2008). Screened women are more likely to encourage others to participate in the services …show more content…
It is stated that data informs policy and action (Gopichandran, 2013), therefore, lack of screening services implies that the statistics of women cancers in Malawi is unreliable or not available. This has a significant impact on the prioritization of resources towards the health of women in the country. In addition, this implies that data on women cancers will be underreported or underestimated leading to inadequate resources being allocated to manage the disease effectively (Jimenez et al., 2011).
Unavailability of screening services implies delays in making a diagnosis and commencing treatment for cancers which will eventually lead to high morbidity and mortality in women (Quinlivan et al., 2014). This further means that women will present to the hospital with an advanced disease or complications of cancer. For example, there are reports of women being diagnosed with cancer when they have already been admitted to the hospital, making the screening to be unnecessary (Thumbs and Borgstein, …show more content…
The problem though is huge in Malawi where the screening services are not available to over 95% of the eligible women (Reddy et al., 2014). This implies that the majority of Malawian women are at an increased risk of developing cancers. However, availability of screening services does not translate into utilization if the other barriers such as costs, negative perceptions and fear are not adequately addressed. This has been proven to be the case in Fiji where few women still cannot access the screening services despite being available (Winkler et al., 2008).
Studies indicates that availability of screening promotes the utilization of other services by women mainly when they are integrated within the maternal and child health services (Quinlivan et al., 2014). Malawi is already at an advantage as it offers integrated health services to women (MOH, 2010). For example, if a woman comes with a child for postnatal services, she is offered an opportunity for her own consultation. However, an opportunity to screen women for cancers is being missed due to unavailability of the
Screening programs have been reported as offering an opportunity for women to socialize and facilitate awareness for the services (Winkler et al., 2008). Screened women are more likely to encourage others to participate in the services …show more content…
It is stated that data informs policy and action (Gopichandran, 2013), therefore, lack of screening services implies that the statistics of women cancers in Malawi is unreliable or not available. This has a significant impact on the prioritization of resources towards the health of women in the country. In addition, this implies that data on women cancers will be underreported or underestimated leading to inadequate resources being allocated to manage the disease effectively (Jimenez et al., 2011).
Unavailability of screening services implies delays in making a diagnosis and commencing treatment for cancers which will eventually lead to high morbidity and mortality in women (Quinlivan et al., 2014). This further means that women will present to the hospital with an advanced disease or complications of cancer. For example, there are reports of women being diagnosed with cancer when they have already been admitted to the hospital, making the screening to be unnecessary (Thumbs and Borgstein, …show more content…
The problem though is huge in Malawi where the screening services are not available to over 95% of the eligible women (Reddy et al., 2014). This implies that the majority of Malawian women are at an increased risk of developing cancers. However, availability of screening services does not translate into utilization if the other barriers such as costs, negative perceptions and fear are not adequately addressed. This has been proven to be the case in Fiji where few women still cannot access the screening services despite being available (Winkler et al., 2008).
Studies indicates that availability of screening promotes the utilization of other services by women mainly when they are integrated within the maternal and child health services (Quinlivan et al., 2014). Malawi is already at an advantage as it offers integrated health services to women (MOH, 2010). For example, if a woman comes with a child for postnatal services, she is offered an opportunity for her own consultation. However, an opportunity to screen women for cancers is being missed due to unavailability of the