Authors :
R. Arunakumari; M. Melvin David; Nivya Benny; Sona Mathai; Santappagari Pavani; R Jyothika; S Vidhya
Volume/Issue :
Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 5 - May
Google Scholar :
https://tinyurl.com/y9u8hw5t
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25may2188
Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.
Abstract :
Cervical cancer remains a major public health concern, and early detection through awareness of warning signs
is crucial for prevention. This study aimed to assess the knowledge regarding warning signs of cervical cancer among
women at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Kuppam and identify factors influencing their knowledge levels. A
quantitative approach with a descriptive cross-sectional design was employed. The study was conducted among 95 women,
selected through a convenient sampling method. Data were collected using a self-structured questionnaire. The findings
revealed that 42.1% of women had adequate knowledge, 26.3% had moderate knowledge, and 31.6% demonstrated
inadequate knowledge. Statistically significant associations were found between knowledge levels and education (Chi
Square = 30.304, p < 0.001), occupation (Chi Square = 40.557, p < 0.001), number of children (Chi Square = 23.453, p =
0.001), type of family (Chi Square = 12.157, p = 0.016), access to healthcare facilities (Chi Square = 14.803, p = 0.022), and
source of health information (Chi Square = 24.3, p = 0.002). The study highlights a significant gap in knowledge. Targeted
health education programs are essential to improve women's knowledge and promote early detection.
Keywords :
Cervical Cancer; Knowledge; Women; Warning Signs; Health Education.
References :
- Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel RL, Laversanne M, Soerjomataram I, Jemal A, Bray F, “Global Cancer Statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN Estimates of Incidence and Mortality Worldwide for 36 Cancers in 185 Countries,” CA Cancer J Clin, vol. 71, no. 3, pp. 209-249, May 2021.
- World Health Organization, “Cervical cancer,” WHO Fact Sheet, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cervical-cancer.
- National Cancer Registry Programme, "Report of National Cancer Registry Programme 2020," Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, 2020.
- Shastri S, Mittra I, Mishra G, Gupta S, Dikshit R, Singh S, Badwe R, "Effect of VIA screening by primary health workers: randomized controlled trial in Mumbai, India," J Natl Cancer Inst, vol. 106, no. 3, p. dju009, Mar 2014.
- GBD 2019 Cervical Cancer Collaborators, "Global, regional, and national burdens of cervical cancer, 2001–19: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019," Lancet Glob Health, vol. 10, no. 12, pp. e1721-e1736, Dec 2022.
- American Cancer Society, “Cervical Cancer Signs and Symptoms,” ACS Online, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cervical-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/signs-symptoms.html.
- Mengesha A, Messele A, Beletew B, "Women's knowledge about cervical cancer and its prevention: a community based cross-sectional study in Debre Markos town, Northwest Ethiopia," BMC Womens Health, vol. 20, no. 1, p. 188, Aug 2020.
- Kumar HNH, Tanya S, "Most of the cervical cancer cases are diagnosed late leading to poor outcomes. Very few studies have explored the role of doctor and source of information for awareness of women about cervical cancer in India," J Family Med Prim Care, vol. 3, no. 4, pp. 389-392, Oct-Dec 2014.
- Roja U, Koteswaramma D, "A study to assess the knowledge on cervical cancer among women in a selected rural area of Andhra Pradesh," Int J Nurs Educ, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 47-51, 2023.
- Taneja N, Chawla B, Awasthi AA, Shrivastav KD, Jaggi VK, Janardhanam R, "Cervical Cancer Awareness, Screening, and its Determinants Among Women of Haryana, India: A Cross-Sectional Study," Indian J Community Med, vol. 46, no. 4, pp. 686-691, Oct-Dec 2021.
- Ghosh S, et al., "Awareness, attitudes, and practices towards cervical cancer and its prevention among rural women in southern India," Int J Gynaecol Obstet, vol. 164, no. 3, pp. 722-728, 2024.
- Mitta H, Gupta PK, Kachroo N, Sinha R, Goyal N, "Cervical cancer prevention: exploring healthcare workers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices," J Educ Health Promot, vol. 12, p. 397, 2023.
Cervical cancer remains a major public health concern, and early detection through awareness of warning signs
is crucial for prevention. This study aimed to assess the knowledge regarding warning signs of cervical cancer among
women at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Kuppam and identify factors influencing their knowledge levels. A
quantitative approach with a descriptive cross-sectional design was employed. The study was conducted among 95 women,
selected through a convenient sampling method. Data were collected using a self-structured questionnaire. The findings
revealed that 42.1% of women had adequate knowledge, 26.3% had moderate knowledge, and 31.6% demonstrated
inadequate knowledge. Statistically significant associations were found between knowledge levels and education (Chi
Square = 30.304, p < 0.001), occupation (Chi Square = 40.557, p < 0.001), number of children (Chi Square = 23.453, p =
0.001), type of family (Chi Square = 12.157, p = 0.016), access to healthcare facilities (Chi Square = 14.803, p = 0.022), and
source of health information (Chi Square = 24.3, p = 0.002). The study highlights a significant gap in knowledge. Targeted
health education programs are essential to improve women's knowledge and promote early detection.
Keywords :
Cervical Cancer; Knowledge; Women; Warning Signs; Health Education.