Mona Al Sairafi1, Farida A Mohamed. 1. Mishref Clinic, Hawalli Health District, Mishref, Kuwait. dr_manaalsaiyrafi@yahoo.com
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding cervical cancer screening among Kuwaiti women. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 300 married Kuwaiti women were randomly selected from those who visited the clinics irrespective of reason(s) for the visit. A structured questionnaire covering sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude, and practice related to cervical cancer screening was administered. RESULTS: Of the 300 women, complete information was collected from 281 (93.7%), the knowledge about the test was adequate in 147 (52.3%) women, while 86 (30.6%) had adequate attitude towards the test and only 67 (23.8%) had an adequate practice. The main reason given for not having had a Papanicolaou smear was that it was not suggested by the doctor. Among all the respondents 220 (78.7%) would prefer a female doctor to conduct the test. The level of education was the only significant factor independently associated with inadequate knowledge and attitude towards Papanicolaou smear test (p = 0.006 and p = 0.001, respectively) when adjusted for the effect of other factors in multivariate logistic regression analysis. However, age (p < 0.001), level of education (p = 0.028), and number of years since last visit with a gynaecologist (p = 0.005) were significant factors independently associated with inadequate practice of the test. CONCLUSION: Our findings showed that a well-designed health education programme on cervical cancer and benefits of screening would increase the awareness among Kuwaiti women. Copyright 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.
OBJECTIVES: To assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding cervical cancer screening among Kuwaiti women. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 300 married Kuwaiti women were randomly selected from those who visited the clinics irrespective of reason(s) for the visit. A structured questionnaire covering sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude, and practice related to cervical cancer screening was administered. RESULTS: Of the 300 women, complete information was collected from 281 (93.7%), the knowledge about the test was adequate in 147 (52.3%) women, while 86 (30.6%) had adequate attitude towards the test and only 67 (23.8%) had an adequate practice. The main reason given for not having had a Papanicolaou smear was that it was not suggested by the doctor. Among all the respondents 220 (78.7%) would prefer a female doctor to conduct the test. The level of education was the only significant factor independently associated with inadequate knowledge and attitude towards Papanicolaou smear test (p = 0.006 and p = 0.001, respectively) when adjusted for the effect of other factors in multivariate logistic regression analysis. However, age (p < 0.001), level of education (p = 0.028), and number of years since last visit with a gynaecologist (p = 0.005) were significant factors independently associated with inadequate practice of the test. CONCLUSION: Our findings showed that a well-designed health education programme on cervical cancer and benefits of screening would increase the awareness among Kuwaiti women. Copyright 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.
Authors: Thomas Everett; Andrew Bryant; Michelle F Griffin; Pierre Pl Martin-Hirsch; Carol A Forbes; Ruth G Jepson Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2011-05-11