Tekeste Zinaye, Berhe Nega, Arage Mahlet, Degarege Abraham, Melaku Yohannes Adama
College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia.
Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Infect Agent Cancer. 2023 Jan 4;18(1):1. doi: 10.1186/s13027-022-00477-5.
There is a paucity of data on public awareness of cancer in Ethiopia. This study assessed cancer signs, symptoms, and risk factors awareness among individuals aged 18 and older in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
A population-based face-to-face interview was conducted applying a validated cancer awareness measure (CAM) tool. A total of 600 adults (315 males and 285 females) were recruited using a multistage sampling technique. One open-ended and ten closed-ended questions were used to assess awareness of cancer signs and symptoms. To assess awareness of cancer risk factors, one open-ended and twelve closed-ended questions were used. Logistic regression analysis was used to test the association between sociodemographic status and awareness of cancer signs, symptoms, and risk factors.
Based on the responses for the open-ended questions, unexplained bleeding (23.16%) and smoking (24.17%) were the most frequently recalled cancer sign and risk factor, respectively. Based on the responses for the closed questions, the majority of respondents identified tiredness all the time (80.7%) as a cancer symptom and alcohol use (82.5%) as a cancer risk factor. The odds of cancer signs and symptoms awareness was higher in those with primary (AOR = 4.50, 95% CI, 1.72-11.79, p = 0.02), secondary (AOR = 4.62; 95% CI 1.86-11.43; p = 0.001), and tertiary (AOR = 7.51; 95% CI 3.04-18.56; p < 0.001) education than those who were illiterate. The odds of awareness about cancer signs and risk factors was 0.28 (95% CI 0.12-0.65; p = 0.003) and 0.22 (95% CI 0.83-0.58; p = 0.002) times lower, respectively, among individuals aged 60 and older than those aged 18 to 29.
Young adults who attended formal education of primary or higher level may have a better cancer signs and symptoms awareness. Future education interventions to increase awareness of the society in Addis Ababa may target illiterate and the elderly.
埃塞俄比亚关于公众对癌症认知的数据匮乏。本研究评估了埃塞俄比亚亚的斯亚贝巴18岁及以上人群对癌症体征、症状和危险因素的认知情况。
采用经过验证的癌症认知测量（CAM）工具进行基于人群的面对面访谈。使用多阶段抽样技术共招募了600名成年人（315名男性和285名女性）。使用一个开放式问题和十个封闭式问题来评估对癌症体征和症状的认知。为评估对癌症危险因素的认知，使用了一个开放式问题和十二个封闭式问题。采用逻辑回归分析来检验社会人口学状况与对癌症体征、症状和危险因素的认知之间的关联。
根据开放式问题的回答，无法解释的出血（23.16%）和吸烟（24.17%）分别是最常被提及的癌症体征和危险因素。根据封闭式问题的回答，大多数受访者将一直感到疲倦（80.7%）确定为癌症症状，将饮酒（82.5%）确定为癌症危险因素。接受小学（比值比[AOR]=4.50，95%置信区间[CI]，1.72 - 11.79，p = 0.02）、中学（AOR = 4.62；95% CI 1.86 - 11.43；p = 0.001）和大学（AOR = 7.51；95% CI 3.04 - 18.56；p < 0.001）教育的人对癌症体征和症状的认知几率高于文盲。60岁及以上人群对癌症体征和危险因素的认知几率分别比18至29岁人群低0.28倍（95% CI 0.12 - 0.65；p = 0.003）和0.22倍（95% CI 0.83 - 0.58；p = 0.002）。
接受过小学或更高水平正规教育的年轻人可能对癌症体征和症状有更好的认知。未来在亚的斯亚贝巴提高社会认知的教育干预措施可能针对文盲和老年人。
