Knowledge and awareness about gynaecological cancer

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Gynaecological cancer (excluding breast cancer) accounts for about 10% of new cancer cases in women and 12% of cancer deaths. lack of awareness is a major factor in women with gynaecological cancer presenting to a doctor late. OBJECTIVE: to assess the knowledge and awareness about gynaecological cancer, SETTING, SUBJECTS AND METHOD: a total of 516 conse¬cutive women who attended the university gynaecology clinic at teaching hospital, mahamodera, galle during august and september 2002 were administered a pretested structured questionnaire. RESULTS: the knowledge about gynaecological cancer presenting as abnormal vaginal bleeding was poor. two-hundred and thirty six (45.8%) women thought that as one approaches menopause, irregular vaginal bleeding was normal. only 185 (35.8%) women knew that post-menopausal bleeding was abnormal. only 163 (31.5%) women knew that post-coital bleeding might be a symptom of cancer. two hundred and forty one (46.7%) women had heard about the cervix. only 89 (17.3%) knew that early marriage was a risk factor for cervical cancer while only 143 (27.7%) knew that multiple sexual partners was a risk factor for cervical cancer. only 27 (5.2%) were aware of the cervical smear. although 363 (70.3%) had heard about hormone replacement therapy (hrt), only 38 (7.4%) knew that there was an association with the occurrence of breast cancer and only 63 (12.2%) knew that there was a high risk of endometrial cancer if used inappropriately. only 134 (26.0%) women had heard about ovarian cancer. CONCLUSION: the knowledge about gynaecological cancer in women attending the university gynaecology clinic was poor. educational programmes in schools and community intervention programmes should be considered to increase the awareness about gynaecological cancer.