Awareness of cervical cancer risk factors and screening methods among women attending a tertiary hospital in Lucknow, India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20175287Keywords:
Cancer cervix, Knowledge, Paps testAbstract
Background: Cervical cancer is the second most common cancers among women worldwide after breast cancer. It is the only cancer in which early diagnosis of precancerous lesions can be done by a very simple and sensitive test that is, paps test. Knowledge of the women about cervical cancer risk factors and awareness about its screening are the key factors that may decrease the mortality and morbidity caused by cancer cervix. Most of the cases of cervical cancer in India are diagnosed very late, because of lack of awareness about risk factors and screening methods, resulting in fatal outcome. So, this study was done to assess the knowledge of risk factors for cervical cancer, and paps smear test for its screening.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 women aged 18-55 years, attending Gynaecology Out-Patient Department (OPD) in a tertiary care hospital in Lucknow. Information about their knowledge of cervical cancer, awareness of its prevention and their socio demographic characters were collected by a questionnaire.
Results: Majority (47%) of the females were in 26-35 years of age. (81.5%) were from rural background. 88% women were not aware of cervical cancer and its risk factors. 6.5% women were aware of the paps test. 8% were aware of probability of early diagnosis. Majority (98.5%) were not aware of vaccination as prevention for cervical cancer.
Conclusions: Present study population shows very poor knowledge about cervical cancer risk factors and is unaware of the concept of prevention. Hence extensive health education to the public is needed regarding cervical cancer and its prevention.
Metrics
References
Ferlay J, Soerjomataram I, Dikshit R, Eser S, Mathers C, Rebelo M et al. Cancer incidence and mortality worldwide: sources, methods and major patterns in GLOBOCAN 2012. Int J Cancer. 2015 Mar 1;136(5).
Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. the challenge ahead: progress in breast and cervical cancer. Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation. 2011. Available at http://www.healthdata.org/policy-report/challenge-ahead-progress-and-setbacks-breast-and-cervical-cancer
Swan J, Breen N, Coates RJ, Rimer BK, Lee NC. Progress in cancer screening practices in the United States. Results from the 2000 national health interview survey. Cancer. 2003;97:1528-40.
Harry TK, Felicia MS, Ngugen S. A needs assessment of barriers to cervical cancer screening in Vietnamese American health care providers. Californian J Health Promotion. 2006;4:146-56.
Gakidou E, Nordhagen S, Obermeyer Z. Coverage of cervical cancer screening in 57 countries: low average levels and large inequalities. PloS Med. 2008;5:132.
Aswathy S, Quereshi MA, Kurian B, Leelamoni K. Cervical cancer screening: current knowledge and practice among women in a rural population of Kerala, India. Indian J Med Res. 2012;136:205-10.
Roy B, Tang TS. Cervical cancer screening in Kolkata, India: beliefs and predictors of cervical cancer screening among women attending a women's health clinic in Kolkata, India. J Cancer Educ. 2008;23:253-9.
Kumar HN, Tanya S. A study on knowledge and screening for cervical cancer among women in Mangalore city. Ann Med Health Sci Res. 2014;4(5):751-6.
Dhivya B, Balakrishnan PR. Cervical cancer screening: knowledge, attitude and practices in a primary health centre in rural India. J Evidence Based Med Health Care. 2015;2(31):4530-9.
Asthana S, Labani S. factors associated with attitudes of rural women toward cervical cancer screening. Indian J Community Med. 2013;38:246-8.
Siddharthar J, Rajkumar B, Deivasigamani K. knowledge, awareness and prevention of cervical cancer among Women attending a tertiary care hospital in puducherry. J Clin Diagn Res. 2014;8(6):OC01-3.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
