Awareness and care seeking pattern for symptoms associated with endometrial carcinoma among postmenopausal women in the district of Colombo: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Variations in endometrial carcinoma awareness among postmenopausal women may explain the variations in care seeking pattern for symptoms associated with endometrial carcinoma. OBJECTIVES: To describe the awareness and care seeking pattern for symptoms associated with endometrial carcinoma among postmenopausal women in the district of Colombo. METHODS: A community based descriptive cross sectional study was conducted among 1168 postmenopausal women in the district of Colombo, using multistage cluster sampling technique. A pre-tested interviewer administered questionnaire was used. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the awareness and care seeking pattern. RESULTS: Of the sample, 83.6% (95% CI: 81.5-85.7, n=977) had heard about endometrial carcinoma. About 56% of women (n=654) were aware that postmenopausal bleeding was a suggestive symptom of endometrial carcinoma. Only 24.0% (n=280) knew that never conceived was a risk factor, 20.6% and 20.9% knew that physical inactivity and obesity were risk factors respectively and 28.0% knew that hormone replacement therapy was a risk factor, for endometrial carcinoma. Of the women, 26.6% (n=311) had experienced some gynaecological symptoms similar to symptoms of endometrial carcinoma during their postmenopausal period. Majority of them had disclosed to the children (n= 155, 49.8%) about the symptoms, 70.7% (n=220) had sought treatment, and the most common reason for seeking treatment was physical discomfort (n=83, 37.8%). A majority had gone to the government hospital (n=75, 34%) to get treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Low awareness of common symptoms, risk KEYWORDS: Endometrial cancer, Awareness, Care seeking pattern, Postmenopausal