Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

A Descriptive Study to Assess the Awareness of the Women Regarding Cervical Cancer


Affiliations
1 University College of Nursing, Faridkot, Punjab, India
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


In most of the developing countries including India, carcinoma of the cervix is the most common malignancy in the females. But, it is the easiest female cancer to prevent through screening using pap smear if people are aware of its early prevention. Therefore, a study was conducted to assess the awareness of women regarding cervical cancer and its association with selected variables. In view of the nature of the problem a descriptive approach and non-experimental research design was chosen for the study. The conceptual framework of the study was based on Betty Newman's Health system model. The study was conducted on a group of 300 women visiting Gynecology OPD of Guru Gobind Singh Medical College Hospital, Faridkot, Punjab. A Self structured interview schedule was used to assess the awareness of the women. The findings of the study showed that 37.7% of the women had adequate awareness while 62.3% were inadequately aware of cervical cancer. By using pearson's chi square as method of statistical analysis a significant association was found between awareness level of the women and their educational status, age at marriage, occupation, monthly family income, H/O menstrual disorder at p<0.05. This concluded that inspite of being the most common malignancy in the females, they are inadequately aware of it. Therefore awareness campaigns should be arranged to make the people aware of this dreadly but preventable disease.

Keywords

Cervical Cancer, Incidence, Pap Smear, Awareness.
Subscription Login to verify subscription
User
Notifications
Font Size


  • Sankaranaryanan R, Buduk AM, Rajkumar R: Effective Screening Programmes for Cervical Cancer in low- and middle-income developing countries. Bull World Health Organ 2001., 79(10): 954-62. Epub 2001 Nov 1.
  • Ferlay J et al. Globocan 2000. Cancer incidence, mortality and prevalence worldwide, version 1.0. Lyon, International Agency for Research on Cancer, 2001 (IARC Cancer Base No. 5).
  • Paymaster JC. Cancer and its distribution in India. Cancer 1964;17:1026
  • Ferlay J, Bray F, Pisani P, Parkin DM: GLOBOCAN 2002: Cancer Incidence, Mortality and PrevalEence Worldwide. In IARC Cancer Base No. 5, version 2.0. IARC Press, Lyon; 2004.
  • Development of an Atlas of Cancer in India. First All India Report 2001-2002 vol. I and II. [www.canceratlasindia. org]: National Cancer Registry Programme (ICMR), Bangalore, 2004
  • Tebeu P. M, Major A.L, Rapiti E, Petignat P, Bouchardy C, Sando Z. The attitude and knowledge of cervical cancer by Cameroonian women; a clinical survey conducted in Maroua, the capital of Far North Province of Cameroon. International Journal of Gynecological Cancer July/ August 2008;18(4):761-765
  • Nwankwo KC, Aniebue UU, Aguwa EN, Anarado AN, Agunwah E. Knowledge attitudes and practices of cervical cancer screening among urban and rural Nigerian women: a call for education and mass screening. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl). 2010 Mar 23
  • Tricia S. Tang, Brita Roy. Cervical Cancer Screening in Kolkata, India: Beliefs and Predictors of Cervical Cancer Screening Among Women Attending a Women’s Health Clinic in Kolkata, India. Journal of Cancer Education 2008 October;23(4):253-259
  • Obiechina NJ, Mbamara SU. Knowledge attitude and practice of cervical cancer screening among sexually active women in Onitsha, southeast Nigeria. Niger J Med. 2009 Oct-Dec;18(4):384-7
  • Donders GG, Gabrovska M, Bellen G, Van Keirsbilck J, Van Den Bosch T, Riphagen I, Verjans M. Knowledge of cervix cancer, human papilloma virus (HPV) and HPV vaccination at the moment of introduction of the vaccine in women in Belgium. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2008 Apr;277(4):291-8

Abstract Views: 749

PDF Views: 0




  • A Descriptive Study to Assess the Awareness of the Women Regarding Cervical Cancer

Abstract Views: 749  |  PDF Views: 0

Authors

Sharanjit Kaur
University College of Nursing, Faridkot, Punjab, India
Bhupinder Kaur
University College of Nursing, Faridkot, Punjab, India

Abstract


In most of the developing countries including India, carcinoma of the cervix is the most common malignancy in the females. But, it is the easiest female cancer to prevent through screening using pap smear if people are aware of its early prevention. Therefore, a study was conducted to assess the awareness of women regarding cervical cancer and its association with selected variables. In view of the nature of the problem a descriptive approach and non-experimental research design was chosen for the study. The conceptual framework of the study was based on Betty Newman's Health system model. The study was conducted on a group of 300 women visiting Gynecology OPD of Guru Gobind Singh Medical College Hospital, Faridkot, Punjab. A Self structured interview schedule was used to assess the awareness of the women. The findings of the study showed that 37.7% of the women had adequate awareness while 62.3% were inadequately aware of cervical cancer. By using pearson's chi square as method of statistical analysis a significant association was found between awareness level of the women and their educational status, age at marriage, occupation, monthly family income, H/O menstrual disorder at p<0.05. This concluded that inspite of being the most common malignancy in the females, they are inadequately aware of it. Therefore awareness campaigns should be arranged to make the people aware of this dreadly but preventable disease.

Keywords


Cervical Cancer, Incidence, Pap Smear, Awareness.

References