Promoting cancer and screening awareness in women with intellectual disabilities 2013

People with intellectual disabilities are living longer which has led to increasing cancer rates among this demographic. Women with intellectual disabilities are more likely to have poorer cancer awareness and lower screening participation than women in the general population. They also present at later stages of cancer despite similar cancer rates in both populations. They are also more likely to depend on paid and family carers for health information. This study assessed the cancer and screening awareness of paid and family carers (n= 125) and women with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities (n = 45) using the Cancer Research UK Generic, Breast and Cervical Cancer Awareness Measures. Ethical approval for the study was received from the relevant Research Ethics Committees. Gaps in cancer and screening awareness were found. Carers and intellectual disability services need to ensure that theoretically based education interventions on cancer and screening awareness are undertaken which will enable women with intellectual disabilities to become more active participants in their own health care.