Knowledge, attitude, and practice on cervical cancer and its screening among women of Mulugu Mandal

Abstract

Background: Cervical cancer is the fourth-leading cause of death in females among noncommunicable diseases. Hence, knowledge of risk factors, symptoms, and screening in females, especially in rural areas is important to reduce the burden of disease. Objective: The objective of this study was to estimate the level of knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) regarding risk factors, symptoms, and preventive measures of cervical cancer, and screening the females by means of Papanicolaou test (PAP) smear. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 30–65 years females of Mulugu Mandal from October 2021 to February 2022. After obtaining informed consent, 505 females were interviewed by house-to-house visit using a semistructured questionnaire with questions regarding KAP on risk factors, symptoms, and preventive measures of cervical cancer, and motivated female for PAP smear if willing, was brought to the institution. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 47.46 ± 9.698. Good knowledge, positive attitude, and regular practice were 11.28%, 43.8%, and 14.1%, respectively, on cervical cancer. PAP smear acceptance rate was 14.059% result and showed 12.6% have atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance and 87.3% have an inflammatory smear. Conclusion: Knowledge on risk factors, symptoms and screening for cervical cancer is low, and the acceptance rate of PAP smear is very low.