Abstract:
Background: Gynecological malignancies have a profound impact on psychological
status. Socioeconomic status and socio-demographic factors influence the ability to
access home care. This study aimed to describe the pattern of gynaecological
malignancies, the distribution of sociodemographic, economic, and psychological
factors associated with gynaecological malignancies, and how these factors relate to
patients receiving home care.
Methods: A hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 76
patients with gynecological malignancies who attend the Oncology Clinic of Teaching
Hospital Jaffna and Tellipalai Trail Cancer Hospital. An interviewer-administered
questionnaire was used. HAD scale was used to assess anxiety and depression.
Rosenberg Self-esteem scale was used to assess self-esteem. Modified Kuppuswamy’s
scale was used to categorize economic status broadly into upper and lower classes. A
scoring system was created to evaluate the adequacy of home care drawing on
sociodemographic, economic factors and other details. The chi-square test was used test
for associations using SPSS.
Results: Mean age was 54.29 years. Ovarian cancer (n=31, 40.8%) followed by cervical
cancer (n=22, 28.9%) and endometrial cancer (n=21, 27.6%) were common
gynaecological malignancies. In the sample, 42 (55.3%) participants had anxiety, 43
participants (56.6%) had depression and 54 (71.1%) participants had intermediate self-
esteem. A majority belonged to the lower socioeconomic class (n=40, 52.6%), had care
takers at home (n=67, 88.2%) most of whom were family members (n=66, 98.7%). Home
care was adequate for 59 (77.6%) patients, a greater proportion belonging to the upper
socio-economic class (n=34, 44.7%) than the lower socio-economic class (n=25, 32.9%).
Those who were married and living with spouses were more likely to have adequate
home care (n=43, 56.6%). Marital status and socio-economic class showed significant
association with receiving adequate home care (p<0.05).
Conclusion and recommendations: Gynaecological cancer survivors often suffer from
anxiety and depression. Marital status and being with children influence their ability to
receive adequate home care. Family members should be encouraged to be involved in
improving the physical and psychosocial well-being of gynaecological cancer survivors.
The latter should be encouraged to live with their families to ensure they receive adequate
home care.
