de Silva, A.H.W.Kasturiratne, A.Subasinghe, V.Samarawickrema, N.Garland, S.M.Wickremasinghe, A.R.2015-09-182015-09-182014The Ceylon Medical Journal. 2014; 59(Supplement 1):330009-0875 (Print)http://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/9693Oral Presentation Abstract (OP51), 127th Annual Scientific Sessions, Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2014 Colombo, Sri LankaINTRODUCTION 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.en-USCervical CancerArticle