Department of Public Health Medicine, School of Nursing and Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Office of the Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
Pan Afr Med J. 2022 Jul 7;42:188. doi: 10.11604/pamj.2022.42.188.26172. eCollection 2022.
cervical cancer continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality among women in the developing world. Despite the national cervical cancer screening programme, findings show low levels of knowledge and practices of cervical cancer screening among rural women in South Africa (SA). The purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices of cervical cancer screening among rural women in KwaZulu-Natal, SA.
an observational cross-sectional study was performed. The study was conducted at three rural clinics. A systematic sampling technique was used to select 283 women, aged 18-65 years. Data were collected using a standardised structured self-administered questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive and analytic statistics.
findings showed a high level of awareness of cervical cancer (93.3%, n=264) and the Pap smear test (95.1%, n=269). Knowledge of cervical cancer-associated factors, symptoms, screening methods and treatment was poor (28.0%, n=79). An overwhelming majority (81.8%, n=231) displayed a positive attitude towards cervical cancer screening. The practice of cervical cancer screening was fairly good (66.8%, n=189). The results showed that socio-demographics were not statistically significantly associated with knowledge of cervical cancer and cervical cancer screening.
despite the inadequate knowledge of women, attitudes towards cervical cancer and screening were generally positive. Health care practitioners are encouraged to focus not only on creating awareness but also on improving knowledge so as women will not only undergo screening but appreciate the importance of cervical cancer screening.
在发展中国家，宫颈癌仍然是导致女性发病和死亡的主要原因之一。尽管开展了全国性的宫颈癌筛查计划，但研究结果显示南非农村地区女性对宫颈癌筛查的知识和实践水平仍然较低。本研究旨在确定南非夸祖鲁-纳塔尔省农村妇女对宫颈癌筛查的知识、态度和实践情况。
采用观察性横断面研究方法。该研究在三个农村诊所进行。采用系统抽样技术选择了 283 名年龄在 18-65 岁之间的女性。使用标准化的结构化自我管理问卷收集数据。使用描述性和分析性统计方法对数据进行分析。
研究结果显示，农村妇女对宫颈癌（93.3%，n=264）和巴氏涂片检查（95.1%，n=269）的认识水平较高。对宫颈癌相关因素、症状、筛查方法和治疗的知识水平较低（28.0%，n=79）。绝大多数（81.8%，n=231）对宫颈癌筛查持积极态度。宫颈癌筛查的实践情况相当良好（66.8%，n=189）。研究结果表明，社会人口统计学因素与宫颈癌和宫颈癌筛查知识无统计学显著相关性。
尽管女性的知识水平不足，但对宫颈癌和筛查的态度普遍较为积极。鼓励医疗保健工作者不仅要提高意识，还要提高知识水平，以便女性不仅接受筛查，而且还能认识到宫颈癌筛查的重要性。
