Awareness Regarding Pap Smear Among Female University Students of Karachi: A Cross-sectional Survey.

Meeshal Khan,Amara Zafar,Ramsha Muneer,Amna A Siddiqui

doi:10.7759/cureus.2784

Abstract

Objective: To determine the knowledge and practices regarding Papanicolaou (Pap) smear test among female university students of Karachi.Method: This cross-sectional study was carried out among 491 female university students of Karachi. Participants were selected by random sampling between the ages of 18 to 30 years; from different universities namely Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS), Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU), and Institute of Business administration (IBA). Pearson chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U tests were applied as the primary statistical methods.Results: Out of 491 participants, three-quarters of the participants knew about the Pap smear test. However, only 1.6% had undergone the procedure. Age, socioeconomic status (SES), and medical background all had a significant relationship with the awareness of Pap smear test. One-third of the females in the study blamed lack of knowledge as the major reason for not getting a Pap smear while another third blamed the lack of recommendation by health care professionals.Conclusion: According to our study, female undergraduate students of Karachi have insufficient knowledge and exposure to Pap smear, a screening test that could decrease the burden of cervical cancer among the female population of our country. Further research is required to assess the severity of the problem and consequently strategize to control it.

Highlights

Cervical cancer was previously ranked the second most common female cancer worldwide [1] but has declined to the fourth most common female cancer [2]
Socioeconomic status (SES), and medical background all had a significant relationship with the awareness of Pap smear test
According to our study, female undergraduate students of Karachi have insufficient knowledge and exposure to Pap smear, a screening test that could decrease the burden of cervical cancer among the female population of our country

Summary

Introduction

Cervical cancer was previously ranked the second most common female cancer worldwide [1] but has declined to the fourth most common female cancer [2]. The burden of the disease is limited primarily to the less developed regions of the world, where one-third of the cervical cancer burden is attributed to South Asia [3]. There is a paucity of data regarding cervical cancer incidence in Pakistan, which makes it difficult to assess the true burden of the disease in the region, making it a seemingly impossible task to plan awareness, screening, and prevention strategies to combat this growing problem. The significant decline in the incidence of cervical cancer in the developed world can be credited largely to the use of the Papanicolaou (Pap) smear as a screening tool for cervical cancer caused by human papilloma virus (HPV) [6]. The Pap smear is an efficient tool to detect precancerous and cancerous changes in the cervix caused by HPV at an early stage, and despite its limitations, the effect of Pap smear testing on reducing the mortality of cervical cancer is a breakthrough in gynecological health [6]

Results

Discussion

Conclusion