Background: Breast and cervical cancers are the most common cause of cancer death among women in the world.These cancers are detectable early, however only a few women participate in cancer screening especially in developingcountries, including Indonesia. Family, culture and religion can influence why women have screening. Husbands, inMuslim families have a significant role in the family’s health including their wife’s reproductive health. However,information about Muslim husbands’ roles in wife’s health especially cancer is limited. Objective: The purpose ofthis study was to determine Muslim husband’s roles in women’s health and cancer from the perspectives of Muslimwomen. Methods: This study was a qualitative study using a descriptive exploratory approach. Purposive samplingwas used to recruit 20 Muslim women, 10 from urban areas and 10 from rural areas of West Java Province, Indonesia.Women were interviewed using a semi-structured interview schedule. Data from the interviews were analyzed usingthe Comparative Analysis for Interview technique. Results: The study found two main themes emerged from the analysis:Muslim husbands’ extensive roles in promoting women’s health and Husbands’ have limited actions with regard tocancer screening. This study also found similarities between rural and urban women’s opinions that in general husbandsactively supported promoting women’s health. Conclusion: Muslim husbands focused on encouraging women tohave healthy lifestyles, however, a lack of support from husbands related to cancer screening. This behaviour couldbe a hindrance to Muslim women’s participation in prevention and the early detection of cancer. There is a need toimprove Muslim husbands’ awareness in women’s cancer.
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