Knowledge and practice regarding prevention of cervical cancer among women attending a tertiary care centre of Tripura

Abstract

Background: Cervical cancer is the commonest malignancy among women in developing world and is considered to be preventable. Knowledge in this regard and timely screening is crucial for prevention. Methods: This hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted during April to May 2014, using a validated interview schedule among a representative sample of 289 women attendees of a tertiary care centre of Tripura chosen by systematic random sampling. Descriptive statistics and χ 2 test were used to present data. P value ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Cervical cancer was known as preventable by 61.9% women, 59.2% knew multiple sex partners, 42.6% knew early sexual intercourse, 72.7 % knew poor personal hygiene, 26.0% knew it as a familial disease, 16.3% knew that vaccine is available for preventing cervical cancer, 41.2% knew early diagnose is possible, 59.86% knew it as a treatable disease, 31.5% knew surgery as the main mode of treatment, 15.57% have heard about PAP smear test, 10.38 % underwent PAP smear test, lack of medical advice was the commonest reason for not undergoing PAP smear test and media was the main source of information for them. Conclusions: Despite knowing cervical cancer as common among Indian women, knowledge regarding its early diagnostic methods, preventability and treatability is found to be low. Regarding the sources of information, health functionaries played poorer role than media and others. Health functionaries should gear up extensive IEC and BCC activities for making people aware and motivated regarding screening for cervical cancer to minimize preventable deaths in this community.

Cervical cancer: perception of peripheral health workers in Lucknow: a cross-sectional study

“…Similar findings were reported among women across India showing awareness level ranging from about 6 per cent to 16 per cent while awareness was a way much higher among healthcare professional, ranging from 81 per cent to 95 per cent. 11,13,[15][16][17]19 Awareness of VIA was also found to be low (14%) among PHWs in present study; similar to the awareness reported among nurses and nursing students at TCCs of rural India and Mumbai. 9,14 Even those who were aware about screening modalities for cervical cancer had not got themselves screened for it.…”

“…About one fourth (28.7%) of the PHWs spuriously perceived that 'increased frequency of micturition' is a symptom of cervical cancer which was also perceived by 6.8 percent nursing staff at a rural tertiary care hospital in central India. 15 'Genital ulcers' (42.4%) and 'prolapse of uterus' (32.4%) were the perceived symptoms of cervical cancer pointing towards prevailing myths about cervical cancer.…”

“…However, Jain et al reported that 21 per cent of the nursing staff at a rural tertiary care hospital in Central India thought it was a fatal disease. 15 Only about two third (65%) of PHWs were aware of the fact that early detection of cervical cancer is possible with the help of investigations. Similar results were demonstrated among community women of Kerala, Kolkata and Tripura.…”

“…11,12,16 Higher level of awareness about this fact was shown among women of rural Tamil Nadu; and nursing staff of Chennai and central India. 15,17,18 Although about two-thirds of the PHWs were aware of the possibility of early detection of cervical cancer, awareness about screening modalities was found to be very low. Pap test was known to only 14 per cent of the PHWs.…”

comparative study of liquid based cytology and visual inspection with acetic acid as screening method of premalignant lesions of cervix

“…Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide (Arbyn et al, 2018). The primary cause for cancer cervix is HPV 16 and HPV 18 (Bhattacharjya et al, 2015). Cancer cervix remains in pre-invasive form and progresses to various grades of dysplasia before progressing to invasive cancer (Kalyankar et al, 2017).…”