Is Cervical Cancer a Concern to Women? A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to assess the knowledge regarding cervical cancer and awareness of its prevention among women of rural India. This cross-sectional study was conducted in the rural areas of Punjab state, India. A total of 275 women were enrolled for the study by using non-randomized convenient sampling. Cervical cancer awareness measure (cervical CAM) tool kit version 2.1 was the tool used for the study with necessary modification. More than half of the participants (52.4%) were heard about cervical cancer, but their knowledge about risk factors (25.5%) and signs and symptoms (6.5%) were very poor, in addition, only a very few of them were aware about screening (21.2%) and vaccination (10.5%). The participants have very poor knowledge about risk factors, signs and symptoms, screening and prevention of cervical cancer. This study concluded by emphasizing the need of a large-scale public education program regarding carcinoma cervix.

Keywords: HPV vaccination, Pap smear test, cervical cancer, risk factors, signs and symptoms

Cite this Article

Vijay V.R., Neetu Tripathi. Is Cervical Cancer, a Concern to Women? A Cross Sectional Study. Journal of Nursing Science and Practice. 2016; 6(1): 31–38p.