Общественная медицина и санитарное просвещение

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Factors Influencing uptake of Cervical Cancer Screening among Women in India: A Hospital based Pilot Study

Sandeep Singh and Sorabh Badaya

Background: In an effort to decrease the toll of cervical cancer, by its knowledge, prevention and treatment services in the community, we provided a nuanced consideration of the sociological and anthropological insight into the women’s knowledge and its association with that of socioeconomic- demographic profile in the course of understanding cervical symptomatology, screening and cancer. Methods: Study through an in-depth questionnaire was conducted at JA Groups of Hospital’s Obstetrics and Gynecology OPD, Gwalior, India on a total of 812 women with a modal average age of 35.51 ± 10.64 years, from June-August 2010. Results: We found a large amount of lack in awareness and perception in Indian women. Surprisingly all women presented were married. Only 9.59% of women had ever heard of cervical cancer, mostly belonging to upper socioeconomic group with only 11.62% underwent at least one cervical screening in their life time. None of them reported exact purpose of the Pap test. Male partner were the sole decision maker of the family in 47.20% women. 73.65% of the respondents were using clothes instead of tampons or sanitary pads during menstruation. Discussion: This study revealed the limited knowledge of Indian women about the susceptibility of cervical cancer, and the necessity of cervical cancer screening among the women. Inadequate public health education, lack of patient-friendly health services, socio-cultural health beliefs, and personal difficulties were the most salient barriers to screening.