Strategic Health Communication for Cancer Prevention

Abstract

Increased urbanization in South Africa, like elsewhere, has led to sedentary living, obesity, chemical hazards, and increased consumption of processed foods among other issues that lead to increased cancer rates. Cancers are often preventable and treatable with early-stage diagnoses. However, South Africa’s Health Department reports only 6 % screening rate for cancer in the country meaning that such cancers are discovered late leading to high mortality, particularly among low income South African women. This chapter sought to investigate the impact of sociocultural constructs on health communication for cancer in South Africa. It applies the ecological model to address the issue of breast cancer screening. The chapter concludes that inclusion of culturally relevant interventions to promote increased breast cancer screening is necessary to improve early-stage diagnoses of the disease among South African women. In addition, the chapter recommends that an effective and comprehensive cancer prevention intervention requires multilayered culturally relevant activities across all ecological levels.