Analyzing Awareness on Risk Factors, Barriers and Prevention of Cervical Cancer among Pairs of Nepali High School Students and Their Mothers.

Kritika Poudel,Naomi Sumi

doi:10.3390/ijerph16224382

Abstract

Providing information on increased cancer risks associated with certain behaviors might encourage adolescents to initiate protective behaviors. This study firstly determined the knowledge of risk factors and prevention of cervical cancer. Secondly, it checked an association between mothers’ screening practice and student’s knowledge. A descriptive, cross sectional study was conducted among 253 pairs of high school students and their mothers. Knowledge on cervical cancer was significantly lower among students and mothers. While cancer screening tests, maintenance of hygiene were considered as major preventive measures for cervical cancer, human papilloma vaccine was the least considered preventive measure. Students who were female, attended discussions on cancer and had a healthy diet had better awareness of cancer. Mothers of female students had better knowledge about cervical cancer than mothers of male students. Less perceived susceptibility and lack of knowledge were major obstacles among mothers, limiting cervical cancer screening to 15%. Although association between knowledge of students and screening practice of mothers was not clear, it was observed that cancer communication increased awareness of cervical cancer in both groups. Our findings showed a strong need for school-based cancer education program to address the issues of human papillomavirus vaccinations, cervical cancer risk and screening.

Highlights

Cervical cancer is considered the fourth most common form of cancer among women, with an estimated 570,000 new cases in 2018, comprising 6.6% of all female cancers
Our findings showed a strong need for school-based cancer education program to address the issues of human papillomavirus vaccinations, cervical cancer risk and screening
Of the students had the habit of doing some sort of physical exercise; around 41.9% of the students had the habit of eating healthy foods at least 3–4 times a week; about 22.1% of the students reported a family history of non-communicable diseases (NCDs); about

Summary

Introduction

Cervical cancer is considered the fourth most common form of cancer among women, with an estimated 570,000 new cases in 2018, comprising 6.6% of all female cancers. Of deaths from cervical cancer occurred in low- and middle-income countries [1]. In Nepal, cancer of the cervix uteri is a major cause of death, resulting in 18.4% of all deaths [2]. It is the most frequent cancer among women between 15 and 44 years of age. 2332 Nepali women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 1367 succumb to the disease [3,4]. The incidence of cervical cancer is 24.2 per 100,000, which makes Nepal one of the countries with the highest cervical cancer mortality rate in South Asia [4,5,6]. Due to a lack of a national population-based cancer registry in

Methods

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Discussion

Conclusion