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Effect of girls’ education on cancer awareness and screening in a natural experiment in Lesotho

Author

Listed:
  • Janny Liao

    (University of Heidelberg
    Harvard University)

  • Ramaele Moshoeshoe

    (National University of Lesotho
    Global Education Analytics Institute)

  • Michelle D. Holmes

    (Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School
    Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health)

  • S. V. Subramanian

    (Harvard University
    Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health)

  • Jan-Walter De Neve

    (University of Heidelberg
    San Diego State University)

Abstract

Breast and cervical cancers are important causes of disability and premature death among women in Sub-Saharan Africa. Previous research has linked girls’ education to cancer service access. Here, we examine the causal effect of girls’ educational attainment on cancer screening practices by means of a natural experiment in Lesotho. In particular, we exploit variation in educational attainment among women that was introduced by an educational policy (a school-entry age cut-off). Data on awareness towards breast cancer, knowledge of Pap smear, breast self-exam, breast clinical exam, and having received a Pap smear is extracted from the Lesotho Demographic and Health Surveys 2009-10 and 2014 (N = 7971). Each additional year of schooling caused by the education policy increases awareness of breast cancer by 4.7 percentage points (p = 0.014, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.0, 8.5), awareness of Pap smear by 5.9 percentage points (p = 0.001, 95% CI: 2.3, 9.5), and engagement in Pap smear by 3.5 percentage points (p = 0.004, 95% CI: 1.1, 5.8). We found no statistically significant effects on breast self-exam and breast clinical exam.

Suggested Citation

  • Janny Liao & Ramaele Moshoeshoe & Michelle D. Holmes & S. V. Subramanian & Jan-Walter De Neve, 2025. "Effect of girls’ education on cancer awareness and screening in a natural experiment in Lesotho," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-58875-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58875-3
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