Knowledge, attitudes and practices of women ages 25-54 years in Hanover with regards to cancer of the cervix

ABSTRACT

Cervical cancer is the most common cancer among women in developing countries and the second most common worldwide. Screening with cervical smear plus adequate follow up therapy can achieve a major reduction in both incidence and mortality ... Objective: to determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices of women age 25-54 years in Hanover with regards to cancer of the cervix and the importance of cancer screening. METHOD: This is a descriptive study to clarify the knowledge of cancer of the cervix and pap smear as a method of screening for this disease ... Four health centres were randomly selected. Systematic sampling was done using the patient's register to select two hundred women who were interviewed. RESULTS: Data analysis is presented for 150 women. Mean age of the women was 34.0 ñ 6.9 years. Most of the women were single 44.7 percent followed by married 29.3 percent and 22.7 percent who lived in common-law union. Most women attended secondary school (46.0 percent), 46.0 percent were employed. Mean gravidity (pregnancy) was 3.66 ñ 2.14, 54.7 percent reported that they had children from previous relationships. The average reported age of first sexual exposure was 16.6 ñ 2.5, 9.3 percent had sexually transmitted disease. In describing cancer of the cervix 61.0 percent stated that it was cancer of the mouth of the womb, 29.3 percent said it was cancer of the womb. Knowledge of risk factors for cancer of the cervix included early sexual activity 76.7 percent, multiple partners 60.7 cigarette smoking 37.3 percent, sexually transmitted diseases 28.0 percent, family history 2.0 percent. 80 percent of the clients knew what a pap smear is and 77.9 percent did pap smears. 46.0 percent had pap smear 2 years or less and 5+ years 31.0 percent. 68.4 percent were done at the health centres. 71.3 percent received results. 22.7 percent feared pap smear, with the main reason due to pain of the procedure 53.8 percent. CONCLUSION: It was observed in the study that most of the women were indulging in behaviour that put them at high risk of cancer of the cervix yet many of them were not aware that they were at risk for cancer of the cervix yet many of them were not aware that they were at risk. Some were afraid of the pap smear, which would allow them early detection and treatment of cervical cancer. Therefore health education will have to be done to motivate them to participate in the screening (AU)