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Title: | Knowledge and attitudes on Cervical Cancer and Its prevention amongst primigravid women |
Authors: | de Silva, A.H.W. Kasturiratne, A. Subasinghe, V. Samarawickrema, N. Garland, S.M. Wickremasinghe, A.R. |
Keywords: | Cervical Cancer |
Issue Date: | 2014 |
Publisher: | Sri Lanka Medical Association |
Citation: | The Ceylon Medical Journal. 2014; 59(Supplement 1):33 |
Abstract: | INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: To describe knowledge and attitudes on cervical cancer and its prevention amongst primigravid women METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted amongst primigravid women aged 18-35 years attending the antenatal clinics of Colombo North Teaching Hospital in 2013. Data were collected using a pretested self-administered questionnaire on their booking visit. RESULTS: 667 participated in the study. Mean age (SD) was 23.9 (4.4) years. Majority (67.5%) had passed G.C.E. Ordinary Level. 30% had heard about cervical cancer but only 11% knew of its viral aetiology.40% identified cervical cancer as a common cancer in Sri Lanka. 8% considered it to be familial and only 15% knew its transmissibility through sex. Knowledge on human papilloma virus (HPV) was very low. 9% had heard about the Papanicolaou test while only 50% of them knew that it could detect cervical cancer at a treatable stage. Only 5.4% had heard about HPV and 5.8% about a vaccine against HPV. Of the respondents who have heard about HPV 70% (21/39) knew that the infection can be prevented by a vaccine.10.5% strongly accepted undergoing periodical Papanicolaou tests as a good health practice while 45% did not know to comment. 21% had no fear but 5% felt embarrassed to participate in testing. Oniy 21% accepted it as a safe test. The association between the level of education and the knowledge of public health importance of cervical cancer was statistically significant (p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge on cervical cancer and preventive methods are low amongst primigravid women. Attitude towards the Papanicolaou test is poor. |
Description: | Oral Presentation Abstract (OP51), 127th Annual Scientific Sessions, Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2014 Colombo, Sri Lanka |
URI: | http://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/9693 |
ISSN: | 0009-0875 (Print) |
Appears in Collections: | Conference Papers |
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