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TITLE:

AWARENESS ABOUT CERVICAL CANCER CAUSE, RISK FACTORS AND WARNING SIGNS AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH SOCIO DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS AMONG FEMALES

AUTHORS:

Rubina Shehzadi, Tanzeel Ul Rahman, Mahwish Javeed, Aneela Ilyas

ABSTRACT:

Purpose: The purpose of study were, to assess the awareness level of cervical cancer cause, risk factors and warning signs and to determine the association of cervical cancer awareness with sociodemographic factors among females. Methods: Descriptive cross sectional study design was used. Study was conducted in two tertiary care hospitals of Islamabad, Pakistan. A total of 110 females were selected through convenient sampling technique. The knowledge was assessed by using point scale method. Chi square was applied to determine the association between cervical cancer awareness and sociodemographic factors. Results: Overall awareness about cervical cancer was 27.2%. The women who heard about cervical cancer were 36.4% and very few 13% were able to identify that Human Papilloma virus is the causative agent. Almost half of the respondents 53.6% and 46.4%were able to identify contraception and having multiple sexual partners are the risk factor. Respondents who thought that post coital bleeding and vaginal discharge are the signs of cancer were 51.8% and 36.4% respectively. A significant association found between cervical cancer knowledge with Education (χ2 = 74.109, df=12, N=110, p=.000, Phi =.821), Occupation (χ2 = 18.479, df =2, N=110, p= .000, Phi = .410) and No. of children (χ2 =20.868, df=4, N=110, p=.000, Phi =.436). Age, Income and residency were also significantly associated. Conclusion: There was insufficient knowledge of women about cervical cancer cause, symptoms and risk factors. Establishment of strategies like publicizing, educating through seminars or media and these could be used for spreading awareness about Human papilloma viral infection and cervical cancer. Keywords: Knowledge; Cervical cancer; Human papilloma virus; Risk factors and Warning signs.

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