Abstract

BackgroundsAs HPV is a sexually transmitted virus, men are crucial in the prevention of cervical cancer, but research about men’s awareness on cervical cancer is limited. Therefore, in this study, we investigated men’s awareness toward women’s cervical cancer, to thoroughly understand the viewpoints of men, and to emphasize the centrality of the role of men in the prevention of cervical cancer.MethodsA qualitative descriptive design was chosen to explore men’s awareness of women’s cervical cancer. Twelve men aged 20–58 were interviewed. Snowball sampling was conducted to recruit participants.ResultsMost participants stated that they were not interested in women’s health, and that they did not have much knowledge about cause and prevention of cervical cancer. They acknowledged that cervical cancer was different from other cancers, based on cause and prognosis of disease. The recognition of cervical cancer in participants varied widely depending on their relationship with women. Respondents’ recognition of cervical cancer was classified into four types based on a Situational Awareness (SA) model including individual factors (knowledge about cervical cancer, interest in women’s health) and system/task factors (relationship with women, men’s responsibility).ConclusionThis study is one of the few studies describing men’s awareness on cervical cancer. Korean men’s awareness level was low, and their concern and knowledge were not good. Some participants thought that cervical cancer can be treated, can be prevented, and is recognized as a disease of a female with men intervening. Our participants perceived that the role of men is necessary for the prevention of cervical cancer. Therefore, a strategy is needed to develop the awareness and knowledge of men on cervical cancer prevention. When planning cervical cancer education for men, phase and type-specific approaches are required, depending on perception level.

Highlights

  • Cervical cancer is the seventh most common cancer, with 528,000 newly diagnosed patients worldwide in 2012 [1]

  • 270,000 women died from cervical cancer in 2016 [2]

  • Types of awareness level regarding cervical cancer Based on our results, we identified participants’ types of awareness of women’s cervical cancer by men’s engagement into women’s issue, their knowledge, their interest in women’s health, and relations with women (Table 4)

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Summary

Introduction

Cervical cancer is the seventh most common cancer, with 528,000 newly diagnosed patients worldwide in 2012 [1]. 270,000 women died from cervical cancer in 2016 [2]. According to the cancer incidence published in 2017, 214,701 cancer cases occurred in Korea in 2015, including 3582 cases of cervical cancer. Cervical cancer accounts for 1.7% of all cancers and is considered the seventh most frequently occurring cancer among females [3]. Korea has been conducting cancer screening since 2002 in order to more quickly detect and treat cancer, which is the leading cause of death in

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