Awareness and knowledge level of cervical cancer among women of reproductive age in Bolgatanga municipality

Abstract

This study assessed the awareness and knowledge level of cervical cancer among reproductive women in the Bolgatanga Municipality of the Upper East Region of Ghana. A structured questionnaires was used to gather data from one hundred and fifty (150) women. The participants were recruited using the convenient sampling method. Out of the total number of 150, 50% of the women were between 21 and 29 years old whiles 14% were aged 15-20 years. The findings suggest that 70.7% of the participants have ever heard of cervical cancer but when they were asked to mention the symptoms of cervical cancer most of these women said they did not know. Those who have heard about cervical cancer mentioned mass media as their source of information (36.7%) whiles 25.3% indicated health workers as their source of information. In conclusion the study revealed the lack of in depth knowledge on cervical cancer, the need for mass education on the disease and the establishment of cervical cancer control program, screening and treatment centers in order to curb misdiagnosis of the disease to reduce mortality associated with the disease.

Cervical Cancer Knowledge and Screening among Schooling and Uneducated Females within Tamale-Ghana

“…There is however an indication that current sensitization programmes are yielding results; this might have accounted for the considerable number of women (61.3%) adequately aware about cervical cancer. This compares with an average awareness rate reported by Ziba et al [5] in…”

“…Among health workers in Winneba-Ghana, it was found that this group of women had adequate knowledge about the risk factors of cervical cancer [7], and it was therefore not surprising that the participants in that study did well on this same question than those in the current study. However, the findings of this study regarding the question about risk factors were similar to those among women of reproductive age in Bolga-Ghana [5] and sexually active women in Elmina-Ghana [13] who were not health workers in both studies and therefore could not have been adequately informed about cervical cancer.…”

“…Among health Ghana, it was found that this women had adequate knowledge about the risk factors of cervical cancer [7], and it was therefore not surprising that the participants in that study did well on this same question than those in the current study. However, the findings ng the question about risk factors were similar to those among women of Ghana [5] and Ghana [13] who were not health workers in both studies and therefore could not have been adequately Cervical cancer is readily preventable when effective programs are implemented to detect and treat its precursor lesions [18]. However, cervical cancer prevention appears not to be commonly promoted in Ghana.…”

“…The study concluded that the risk factors for cervical cancer include multiple sexual partners, multi-parity, sexual activity at an early age, smoking, use of birth control pills and family history of the disease [4]. However, A study by Ziba et al [5] among women of reproductive age in the Bolgatanga Municipality revealed knowledge on cervical cancer risk factors to include early initiation of sex (32%), multiple birth (10%), multiple sexual partners (34%), vaginal douching (9.3%), cigarette smoking (14.7%), recurrent STD`s (36.7%) with 26% of the respondents reported had no idea of any of the risk factors. This may be attributed to; limited awareness on cervical cancer, cultural believes associated with seeking orthodox treatment and lack of proper decentralization of health facilities and workers in the Northern regions.…”

Awareness of sexually transmitted infections and cervical cancer among women in urban slums of Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

“…Similarly a link between formal education and awareness of cervical cancer was observed in a study conducted in Ghana. 15 …”