Abstract
Cervical cancer is the most common cancer associated with women in developing countries with 80% cases reported every year and could be prevented by proper screening and vaccination. The objective of this study was to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of North Indian women visiting Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow for cervical cancer screening. This was a cross-sectional study of 300 women attending the Out-patient department (OPD) at Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow. We used a validated questionnaire tool comprised of 24 items to collect data through face-to-face interviews between January 2018 and October, 2019. Results are expressed in percentage form for each question in this article. The mean age ± SD of the participants was 34 ± 10.34 years, they were mostly married (198; 66%), and had a high school or higher education (235; 78.3%). Over 66% (198 participants) were aware of cervical cancer as a disease and had heard about it from various sources like their family, friends, television, print media, radio etc. Most of these participants (66%) who were aware of Cervical cancer (CX CA) had been able to identify the various established risk factors, signs and symptoms of the disease but only 20% were aware with Pap smear procedure while almost 70% didn’t know that early detection of this disease is possible. Nearly 53% (158 participants) believed that CX CA vaccination will protect them against cervical cancer. After explaining all the signs, symptoms, possible modes of transmission and dangers related to the ignorance of cervical cancer screening, 68.3 percent of the women participants agreed to allow their female relatives for CX CA screening and vaccination while 32% still had certain hesitations related to the screening and vaccination program. The need of the hour is a better-planned program to generate awareness and allow the women candidates to explore the CX CA issue and get themselves and their relatives prepared for screening and vaccination from the deadly disease.
Highlights
Cervical cancer (CX CA) is the most common cause of cancer and is related to high mortality rate among women worldwide
Most of these participants (66%) who were aware of Cervical cancer (CX CA) had been able to identify the various established risk factors, signs and symptoms of the disease but only 20% were aware with Pap smear procedure while almost 70% didn’t know that early detection of this disease is possible
After explaining all the signs, symptoms, possible modes of transmission and dangers related to the ignorance of cervical cancer screening, 68.3 percent of the women participants agreed to allow their female relatives for CX CA screening and vaccination while 32% still had certain hesitations related to the screening and vaccination program
Summary
Cervical cancer (CX CA) is the most common cause of cancer and is related to high mortality rate among women worldwide. Developed countries have significantly reported a drop in cervical cancer incidences due to intensive screening programs [1]. Still, it is the second most common carcinoma among women in developing and underdeveloped countries, accounting for about 80% of the global economic and health care burden due to this disease [2]. Most cases of cervical cancers can be attributed to human papillomavirus (HPV) infections [3]. Evidence from the epidemiological and molecular biological studies has established a strong association between human papillomavirus (HPV) serotypes 16 and 18 and the severity of cervical cancer [5]. Education Illiterate Below matriculation Intermediate or post high school diploma Graduate Postgraduate Total
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