Beliefs could delay cancer screening and care in Meghalaya, study finds

Tue Jan 07 21:24:00 UTC 2025: ## Meghalaya Cancer Study Reveals Cultural Barriers to Treatment

**Guwahati, January 8, 2025** – A new study published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research reveals significant cultural barriers hindering timely cancer treatment in Meghalaya. Researchers from the Indian Institute of Public Health Shillong and other institutions interviewed cancer patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers to identify obstacles to care.

The study, based on interviews with 37 cancer patients, 12 caregivers, and five healthcare providers, found that prevalent cultural beliefs significantly impact health-seeking behavior. Many patients and their families attribute cancer to supernatural causes, including “bih” (a concept related to ill intent) and “skai” (similar to the “evil eye”). The belief that negative speech (“kren jemdaw”) can also cause illness further complicates matters.

These beliefs, coupled with fatalism, stigma, and a preference for traditional medicine, lead to delayed diagnosis and treatment. Many patients initially resort to self-medication or traditional healers, only seeking conventional medical care when symptoms worsen. The study highlighted the particularly strong influence of these beliefs among the Khasi and Garo tribal communities, who constitute 86% of Meghalaya’s population.

The research also points to the high incidence of upper digestive tract cancers in the region, linked to high consumption of tobacco, alcohol, betel nut, and other risk factors, exacerbated by low cancer screening rates. The study underscores the need for culturally sensitive interventions to address misconceptions and promote timely access to healthcare. The researchers emphasize the importance of incorporating local beliefs and perspectives into public health campaigns to improve cancer outcomes in Meghalaya. The study analyzed data from 22,007 individuals treated at Civil Hospital Shillong for the five most common cancers in the state: oesophageal, breast, oral, cervical, and lung cancer.