Mwaka, AD;
Orach, CG;
Were, EM;
Lyratzopoulos, G;
Wabinga, H;
Roland, M;
(2016)
Awareness of cervical cancer risk factors and symptoms: cross-sectional community survey in post-conflict northern Uganda.
Health Expectations
, 19
(4)
pp. 854-867.
10.1111/hex.12382.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Lack of awareness of risk factors and symptoms for cancer may lead to late diagnosis and poor prognosis. OBJECTIVE: We assessed community awareness about cervical cancer risk factors and symptoms and perceptions about prevention and cure of cervical cancer in order to contribute data to inform interventions to improve cervical cancer survival. DESIGN: Cross-sectional population-based survey. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: We conducted this study in Gulu, a post-conflict district in Uganda in 2012. The sample included 448 persons aged 18 years and above, selected through a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling process. DATA COLLECTION METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We collected data using a pretested structured questionnaire. Logistic regressions were used to determine magnitudes of associations between socio-demographic and outcome variables. RESULTS: Most participants (444/448) had heard about cervical cancer. Known risk factors including multiple sexual partners, human papillomavirus infection, and early onset of sexual activity, were recognized by 88%, 82%, and 78% of respondents respectively. 63% of participants believed that prolonged use of family planning pills and injections caused cervical cancer. The majority of participants recognized symptoms of cervical cancer including inter-menstrual bleeding (85%), post-menopausal bleeding (84%), and offensive vaginal discharge (83%). 70% of participants believed that cervical cancer is preventable and 92% believed that it could be cured if diagnosed at an early stage. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Recognition of cervical cancer risk factors and symptoms was high among study participants. Targeted interventions including increasing availability of HPV vaccination, population-based cervical screening and diagnostic services can translate high awareness into actual benefits.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Awareness of cervical cancer risk factors and symptoms: cross-sectional community survey in post-conflict northern Uganda |
| Location: | England |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1111/hex.12382 |
| Publisher version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/hex.12382 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | © 2015 The Authors. Health Expectations Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Keywords: | Awareness, cervical cancer, health seeking, perceived causes, post-conflict northern Uganda, risk factors |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute of Epidemiology and Health UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute of Epidemiology and Health > Behavioural Science and Health |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1480437 |
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