A study to Assess the Knowledge on Cervical Cancer and its Prevention among Women Residing in a Selected Slum of Noida and to Develop an Informational Pamphlet on Cervical Cancer and its Prevention

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Cancer of the uterine cervix is the commonest gynaecologic cancer in India, with most women presenting with disease extending beyond the cervix. The majority of women belong to the lower socioeconomic status, are rural, aged between 35 and 64 years and highly noncompliant for complete treatment and follow-up. Cervical cancer is the most frequent cancer in Indian women and about 7.9% of women in the general population are estimated to harbor persistent HPV infection at any given time.In most of the developing countries including India, cancer of the cervix is the most common malignancy among females. But it is easy to prevent cancer of cervix through pap smear. Thus, the present study was carried out to assess the risk factor and knowledge regarding Cervical Cancer and its prevention among women residing in a selected urban slum of Delhi and to develop and disseminate an informational pamphlet on Cervical Cancer and its prevention. Objectives: 1)To assess the knowledge on cervical cancer and its prevention among of reproductive age group. 2) To develop and disseminate an informational pamphlet about cervical cancer and its prevention among women of reproductive age group. Methods and materials: A community based descriptive study was conducted in Taimoor Nagar, urban slum of Delhi among 60 women of reproductive age group, selected using convenience sampling. Knowledge and risk factor assessment was done using structured knowledge questionnaire as a tool and an informational pamphlet was also disseminated. Results: A total of 60 women in reproductive age group participated in the study. The data regarding assessment of risk factors , revealed that 38.14% gave birth to their first child before 21 years of age, 16.66% of the women got married at an early age, 7.14% of the women had a parity of three and more than three, 7.14% of the women were using oral contraceptives and 2.13% were consuming tobacco or bidi. It was also found that among the samples, 8 (13.3%) were having three risk factors, 9 (15%) were having two risk factors, 10 (16.7 %) were having one risk factor and the rest i.e., 33 (55%) were not having any risk factors. The data regarding the assessment of knowledge revealed that, most of them, i.e. 28(46.7%) had an average knowledge, 24(40%) had poor knowledge and rest of them i.e., 8(13.3%) had good knowledge and none of them (0%) had excellent knowledge regarding cervical cancer and its prevention. Mean and standard deviation was calculated, it was found to be 11.35 and 3.75 respectively. Conclusion: The study concludes that effective teaching and education is needed to improve the knowledge of women regarding cervical cancer and its prevention. Key Words: Risk Factors, Knowledge, Cervical Cancer, Reproductive Age Group, Pamphlet.