Esophageal Cancer Awareness and Screening in the Amathole, Buffalo City, and O.R. Tambo Districts of the Eastern Cape, South Africa

Abstract

This study assessed levels of awareness regarding esophageal cancer symptoms, risk factors, and screening services among residents and healthcare users in the Amathole, Buffalo City, and O.R. Tambo districts of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. A cross-sectional survey design was employed, with self-administered questionnaires administered to 150 participants (100 female, 50 male) recruited from healthcare facilities in these three predominantly rural districts. Questionnaires were available in English and IsiXhosa, and data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Findings reveal a critically low level of awareness: the majority of participants had not previously encountered the term "esophageal cancer," and large proportions across all three districts reported not knowing about screening methods or whether community members utilised them. Recognised symptoms included pain on swallowing, weight loss, vomiting of blood, and loss of appetite, while identified risk factors encompassed tobacco smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, and, to a lesser extent, dietary practices. A substantial proportion of participants preferred traditional healers as their first point of care. These findings underscore significant gaps in community health literacy and the absence of structured programmes for esophageal cancer awareness and early detection in the rural Eastern Cape. The study recommends targeted community health education campaigns, integration of esophageal cancer awareness into existing screening platforms, and culturally sensitive outreach that engages traditional healing practitioners as partners in early detection.