AWACAN is a project to measure cancer awareness among women in Sub-Saharan Africa. Cancer is an increasing public health problem in Sub-Saharan Africa with a disproportionately high burden of cancers in women and high proportion of infection-related cancers. Yet cancer is frequently diagnosed at a late stage when the cancer is large or has spread. Most women present with late stage disease. Measuring factors influencing time to presentation (the time from noticing a symptom to the first consultation with a healthcare professional) is important in developing and evaluating interventions to promote timely cancer diagnosis.  However, there is a lack of validated, culturally relevant measurement tools. The AWACAN research team has developed and validated culturally relevant cancer awareness measurement tools to promote timely diagnosis of cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa, validated in English, isiXhosa and Acholi.

E-mail: fmw22@medschl.cam.ac.uk

Website: www.awacan.online

J Moodley J, Scott SE, Mwaka AD, Constant D, Githaiga JN, Stewart TS, Payne A, Cairncross L, Somdyala NIM, Walter FM .Development and validation of the African Women Awareness of CANcer (AWACAN) tool for breast and cervical cancer. PLOSOne. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0220545

Adoch W, Garimoi CO, Scott SE, Okeny GG, Moodley J, Komakech H, Walter FM, Mwaka AD. Knowledge of cervical cancer risk factors and symptoms among women in a refugee settlement: a cross-sectional study in northern Uganda. Conflict and Health. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-020-00328-3

Harries J, Scott SE, Walter FM, Mwaka AD, Moodley J. Women’s appraisal, interpretation and help-seeking for possible symptoms of breast and cervical cancer in South Africa: a qualitative study. BMC Women’s Health. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-020-01120-4

Moodley J, Constant D, Mwaka AD, Scott SE, Walter FM. Mapping awareness of breast and cervical cancer risk factors, symptoms and lay beliefs in Uganda and South Africa. PloS One. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0240788

Nnaji CA, Kuodi P, Walter FM, Moodley J. Effectiveness of interventions for improving timely diagnosis of breast and cervical cancers in low and middle-income countries: a systematic review protocol. BMJ Open. 2020. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-042788

Moodley J, Constant D, Mwaka AD, Scott SE, Walter FM. Anticipated help seeking behaviour and barriers to seeking care for possible breast and cervical cancer symptoms in Uganda and South Africa. ecancermedicalscience. 2021. doi: 10.3332/ecancer.2021.1171

Mwaka AD, Walter FM, Scott S, Harries J, Wabinga H, Moodley J. Symptom appraisal, help-seeking and perceived barriers to healthcare seeking in Uganda: an exploratory study among women with potential symptoms of breast and cervical cancer. BMJ Open. 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-041365

Nnaji CA, Kuodi P, Walter FM, Moodley J. Timeliness of diagnosis of breast and cervical cancers and associated factors in low-income and middle-income countries: a scoping review protocol. BMJ Open. 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-044093