Poor Cervical Cancer Knowledge and Awareness among Women and Men in the Eastern Cape Province Rural Community

Abstract

Cervical cancer knowledge and awareness is low among South Africans despite high cervical cancer prevalence. This study aimed to investigate knowledge about the symptoms, signs, risk factors, and methods of prevention of cervical cancer among women and men in the rural Eastern Cape province, South Africa. This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in the rural community of the OR Tambo municipality in the Eastern Cape province. 252 women and men aged ≥ 25 years were randomly recruited. Data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires. A knowledge score was categorized as “good” if it was ≥65%. The majority of participants (69.8%) were women. Only a proportion of 25.6% (51/199) of the participants had good overall knowledge about cervical cancer, and the majority of these (84.3%) were women. Women previously screened for cervical cancer had a significantly higher median cervical knowledge score than those who had never been screened (p = 0.002). Only among women, good knowledge about cervical cancer was associated with a tertiary education level (OR: 3.17, 95% CI: 1.08–9.57, p = 0.044) and high household income (OR: 3.40, 95% CI: 1.24–9.75, p = 0.027). Both women and men in rural Eastern Cape had limited knowledge about the risk factors and prevention methods of cervical cancer. Public health strategies to improve knowledge and awareness of cervical cancer among both men and women are necessary.