A study to evaluate the attitude regarding the management of cervical cancer among women in selected rural areas of Pune district

Abstract

Introduction: Cervical cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer and the third leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide. Nearly 83% of the world’s new cases and 85% of all cervical cancer-related deaths occur in developing countries. It is primarily caused by human papillomavirus (HPV); a sexually transmitted pathogen that could be prevented with safe sexual practice and using vaccines among others. Cervical cancer is the most common type of cancer in women in rural India. More than 60-70% of cancers are diagnosed in later stages with poor survival rates. Screening helps in the early detection of cervical cancer and better survival. Awareness and attitudes of women towards cervical cancer screening may determine health-seeking behavior. The study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitude of women regarding the management of cervical cancer. Methods: This was a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study conducted among women. A semi-structured questionnaire was developed. After obtaining permission from the Institutional Ethics Committee, the questionnaire was administered to the women in the language of their preference. Women were educated after the data collection and a hand-out was provided. Data was analyzed using SPSS Version 10. Independent ‘t’ test was used to compare mean attitude scores across sociodemographic groups. 400 samples for the study were selected by using a non-probability convenient sampling technique. Results: The baseline attitude analysis revealed that a significant majority of participants (90%) held a negative attitude toward screening and treatment of cervical cancer. Conclusion: The attitude of participants is negative about the management of cervical cancer. This finding is consistent with previous studies that have identified attitude gaps among women regarding cervical cancer.