Social circulation and consumption of breast cancer health information among Yamatji in Western Australia

Abstract

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in Australia, and other parts of the world, especially for women. Over the last few decades, more and more information has become available to the public about breast cancer. Throughout Yamatji country various formats for the dissemination of this information have been implemented, with varying degrees of success. Data collected as part of a doctoral research project on Yamatji breast cancer experiences shows that for information to be considered trustworthy and valid, it needs to be passed along social pathways that allow information ‘consumers’ to evaluate the information ‘provider’. Through this social circulation of health information, Yamatji actively engage and shape health information provision, as well as distribution. Likewise, by rejecting certain health information as untrustworthy, Yamatji assert agency in their self‐health management.