AL-Hammadi Fatima Ahmed, Al-Tahri Fatema, Al-Ali Asma, Nair Satish C, Abdulrahman Mahera
Primary Health Care Sector, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Email:
Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2017 Dec 29;18(12):3379-3387. doi: 10.22034/APJCP.2017.18.12.3379.
Global data indicate that cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide. Important factors that affect interventions for early diagnosis of cervical cancer include social beliefs and values and poor knowledge. These may contribute to women’s participation in screening for cervical cancer and have a significant impact on decisions to take preventive action. The present study was conducted with 599 women in the UAE between September 2016 and March 2017. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to determine knowledge about cervical cancer and screening, demographic characteristics and perceived barriers. Knowledge about the Pap smear test was limited, and awareness that they should undergo the Pap smear test every three years even with an initial negative/normal Pap smear result was abysmal. In spite of the positive attitude of the women towards the Pap smear test, almost 80% of the women surveyed had no knowledge of precancerous lesions. Having higher income (21/29, 72%, p=0.027) and more miscarriages were associated with better practice of Pap smears (19/26, 73%, p=0.010). Knowledge levels were significantly higher (66.3±22.2,) that values for attitude (60.5±20.9, p= 0.03, 95% CI {0.22-11.3}, Chi-square 4.38) and practice (53.7 24.1, p= 0.001, 95% CI {6.9-18.1}, Chi-square 19.7). A well-designed health education programme on cervical cancer and benefits of screening should increase the awareness among women in UAE. One point to stress is that better communication with health professionals and improvement of access to health care services should increase the rate of cervical cancer screening.
全球数据表明，宫颈癌是全球女性中第四大常见癌症。影响宫颈癌早期诊断干预措施的重要因素包括社会信仰和价值观以及知识匮乏。这些因素可能会影响女性参与宫颈癌筛查，并对采取预防行动的决策产生重大影响。本研究于2016年9月至2017年3月期间在阿联酋对599名女性进行。开展了一项横断面调查，以确定有关宫颈癌及筛查的知识、人口统计学特征和感知到的障碍。对巴氏涂片检查的了解有限，即使最初巴氏涂片检查结果为阴性/正常，仍知晓应每三年进行一次巴氏涂片检查的意识极低。尽管女性对巴氏涂片检查持积极态度，但近80%接受调查的女性对癌前病变一无所知。收入较高（21/29，72%，p=0.027）和流产次数较多与更好地进行巴氏涂片检查相关（19/26，73%，p=0.010）。知识水平显著更高（66.3±22.2），高于态度水平（60.5±20.9，p=0.03，95%置信区间{0.22 - 11.3}，卡方值4.38）和实践水平（53.7±24.1，p=0.001，95%置信区间{6.9 - 18.1}，卡方值19.7）。一项精心设计的关于宫颈癌及筛查益处的健康教育计划应能提高阿联酋女性的认识。需要强调的一点是，与医疗专业人员进行更好的沟通以及改善获得医疗服务的机会应能提高宫颈癌筛查率。
