Cervical Cancer Risk Factors among Female High School Students in Baguio city

Abstract

Objective: To determine and correlate the prevalence of cervical cancer risk factor exposures such as smoking, sexual activity, use of condoms, contraceptives pills, and history of STIs according to age and high school year level in Baguio city high-school students, Philippines. Background: Cervical cancer is the second cause of cancer deaths among women in the Philippines and the second most frequent cancer in women ages 15-44 [1]. Methods: The risk stratification level of cervical cancer development was determined using a questionnaire adapted from Siteman Cancer Center and Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine. A coding manual was created for each of the risk factors and the level stratification of the risk factors. The study size was computed with the use of Open Epi, Version 2, open source calculatorSSPropo, an internet based epidemiologic calculator. Results: 98.3% of the study group was classified to have much below average risk of developing cervical cancer. 1.2% of the study group was of below average risk and 0.5% of the study group was with above average risk of cervical cancer with significant relationship to age of first sexual contact and number of sexual partners. Conclusion: An increased risk of cervical cancer among these students were associated with early onset of sexual activity, increasing number of sexual partners and early parity.