Knowledge and perceptions of cervical cancer and healthcare in Vanuatu

Abstract

Vanuatu women are poorly educated regarding health issues, particularly cervical cancer. Strategies to improve cervical cancer awareness may include travelling workshops, an active media campaign and the introduction of culturally sensitive education programs tailored to formal and non-formal environments. Programs should inform whole communities and health care professionals.

Cancro do Colo do Útero: o que sabem as jovens?

“…15 No entanto, estes valores variam bastante em vários estudos internacionais, desde 15% a 85%. [9][10][11][12][13]16 Os meios de comunicação social constituem o principal vetor de informação assinalado, o que pode explicar a inexistência de relação entre os conhecimentos demonstrados e a frequência de uma consulta na USF ou UCSP no último ano. Isto traduz uma necessidade de melhoria na transmissão desta informação pelos profissionais de saúde aos utentes e alerta para a importância da qualidade das informações de promoção de saúde nos meios de comunicação social.…”

“…A avaliação dos dados demográficos e dos conhecimentos foi feita através da aplicação de um questionário anónimo (em anexo), elaborado pelos autores tendo por base outros estudos que apresentavam objetivos semelhantes. [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] Apesar de não validado, o questionário foi submetido a um teste piloto com 20 jovens de características demográficas semelhantes às da população alvo, que frequentavam uma escola pública do mesmo concelho, mas de uma freguesia diferente, não tendo sido efetuadas alterações ao questionário.…”

Factors Associated with Low Screening Participation and Late Presentation of Cancer amongst Women in the Pacific Island Countries and Territories: A Systematic Review

“…The reviewed studies presented evidence of factors associated with low participation in cancer screening services and late presentation of cancer among women of nine countries (see table 2). Two studies focus on breast cancer (SenGupta et al, 1990;Pape et al, 2016), five studies focussed on cervical cancer (Fotinatos et al, 2010;Rius et al, 2013;Fong et al, 2014;Kelly-Hanku et al, 2018;Van Dyne et al, 2010) and four studies focused on both (Ou et al, 2004;Tseng et al, 2004;Tsark et al, 2007;Tutti et al, 2017). Most of the papers focused specifically on one geographical location, however, one study explored six US associated regions, three of which were of interest to this study; Republic of the Marshall Islands, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia.…”

“…The included studies focussed on screening participation related to several screening methods. Three studies used a mammogram for breast cancer screening (Tseng et al, 2004;Pape et al, 2016;Tutti et al, 2017), five studies used pap smear (Fotinatos et al, 2010;Rius et al, 2013;Tseng et al, 2004;Tsark et al, 2007;Tutti et al, 2017) and two studies used visual inspection of the cervix with acetic acid for cervical cancer screening (Fong et al, 2014;Tsark et al, 2007), one study used physical breast examination for breast cancer screening (Tsark et al, 2007). Three studies did not mention the type of 45 to 3500 participants, with the age of participants ranging from 10.…”

“…Factors reported by the reviewed studies as being associated with low screening participation and/or late presentation of cancer in women are presented in Table 2. Six factors were identified and include; resources and facilities (SenGupta et al, 1990;Ou et al, 2004;Tseng et al, 2004;Fong et al, 2014;Pape et al, 2016;Tsark et al, 2007;Van Dyne et al, 2010;Tutti et al, 2017), trust in the health care system (Tseng et al, 2004), culture and tradition (SenGupta et al, 1990;Fong et al, 2014;Pape et al, 2016;Tsark et al, 2007), modesty (Fotinatos et al, 2010;Tseng et al, 2004;Tutti et al, 2017), awareness (SenGupta et al, 1990;Fotinatos et al, 2010;Rius et al, 2013;Tseng et al, 2004;Pape et al, 2016;Tsark et al, 2007;Tutti et al, 2017), and socioeconomic status (Fong et al, 2014;Pape et al, 2016). A description of each of these factors is presented in the following sections.…”