title: Evaluation of Socio-demographic Factors for Non-compliance to Treatment in Locally Advanced Cases of Cancer Cervix in a Rural Medical College Hospital in India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Carcinoma cervix is a leading cause of cancer in India. However, majority of the patients face a problem of not being able to complete the treatment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was an attempt to find out the important causes of this non-compliance to treatment in a rural Medical College Hospital where majority of the cancer cases are of cervical cancer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 144 patients studied over 2 years 88 cases could not complete the treatment. The study revealed that due old age 58.33% cases were defaulters, having many children at home meant a burden to 76.92% cases and 63.89% cases had a problem of not been able to travel a far distance of more than 100 km from home to hospital for treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These were the important factors of non-compliance and suggested more important than the issues of literacy and poor socio-economic status.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, North Bengal Medical College and Hospital, Sushrutanagar, District Darjeeling, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Samrat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dutta
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, North Bengal Medical College and Hospital, Sushrutanagar, District Darjeeling, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Nandita
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Biswas
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, North Bengal Medical College and Hospital, Sushrutanagar, District Darjeeling, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Goutam
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Muhkherjee
keywords: Cervical cancer; Non-compliance; Radiotherapy; Socio-demographic factors; Treatment