Science Journal of Public Health

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Cervical Cancer Screening Program – A Camp Based Cross Sectional Study Among Rural Women in North Kerala

Received: 15 February 2017    Accepted: 04 March 2017    Published: 27 March 2017
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Abstract

Cervical cancer is ranked as the most frequent cancer in women in India and still remains a leading cause of cancer deaths because of high HPV infection rates and lack of comprehensive cervical Pap smear testing of susceptible women. There has been a regular campaign against cervical cancer for 30 years in India, but impact on the morbidity and mortality has been low, with India ranking fourth worldwide. A key challenge for cancer programs is encouraging women in the 30-55 year age group at highest risk for treatable, precancerous lesions, to seek pap smear screening camps. To increase attendance it is important to work in the community by approaching local women's groups and with their help increasing awareness, knowledge and accessibility of screening among women. In this study the investigators made an effort to increase camp attendance by involving women’s groups. We assessed the effect of involvement of women groups in comparison to previous camps, the awareness, attitude and practice of the disease, and its prevention, and the HPV vaccine among the women and finally studied the Pap smear results. A camp based cross sectional study was done in Karindalam village to assess pap smear tests, knowledge, attitude and practice regarding cancer cervix and its screening method. Community level women volunteers were used to mobilise women for the camp. Quantitative data was collected through face to face interview using a pre tested questionnaire and the pap smear test done. Analysis was done with descriptive statistics using epi info. There were 319 women who attended the camp. Out of these 99.7% were ever married. In our studied population 55% of the women were married before 20 years of age and 36% had their first child before 20 years of age. Fifty percent studied up to 10th grade and around 50% belonged to the lower class. Majority of the women had inadequate knowledge about the disease symptoms (52.7%), risk factors (76%), preventive measures (65.5%), Pap smear method (91%) and HPV vaccine (8.4%). Reasons for not doing a Pap smear test so far were inadequate knowledge about the disease and test, fear of procedure and result, non availability of the test locally, being non symptomatic, and cultural factors. The Pap smear tests identified 2 (0.6%) women with high intra epithelial lesions, 4 (1.2%), endocervicitis and 3 (1%) with bacterial vaginosisand adequate follow up was offered. The government of India has to respond to the need of the hour and strengthen information, education and communication efforts on cervical cancer along with providing widespread screening facilities.

DOI 10.11648/j.sjph.20170503.19
Published in Science Journal of Public Health (Volume 5, Issue 3, May 2017)
Page(s) 215-223
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This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Cancer Cervix, Pap Smear Test, HPV Vaccine

References
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Author Information
  • Department of Community Medicine, Academy of Medical Sciences, Pariyaram, Kannur, Kerala

  • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Academy of Medical Sciences, Pariyaram, Kannur, Kerala

  • Department of Community Medicine, Academy of Medical Sciences, Pariyaram, Kannur, Kerala

  • Department of Community Medicine, Academy of Medical Sciences, Pariyaram, Kannur, Kerala

  • Department of Community Medicine, Academy of Medical Sciences, Pariyaram, Kannur, Kerala

  • Department of Community Medicine, Academy of Medical Sciences, Pariyaram, Kannur, Kerala

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  • APA Style

    Usha Karunakaran, Namitha Thekkandathil, Binoo Divakaran, Mini Mol Joseph, Salini Kannankai, et al. (2017). Cervical Cancer Screening Program – A Camp Based Cross Sectional Study Among Rural Women in North Kerala. Science Journal of Public Health, 5(3), 215-223. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20170503.19

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    Usha Karunakaran; Namitha Thekkandathil; Binoo Divakaran; Mini Mol Joseph; Salini Kannankai, et al. Cervical Cancer Screening Program – A Camp Based Cross Sectional Study Among Rural Women in North Kerala. Sci. J. Public Health 2017, 5(3), 215-223. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20170503.19

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    AMA Style

    Usha Karunakaran, Namitha Thekkandathil, Binoo Divakaran, Mini Mol Joseph, Salini Kannankai, et al. Cervical Cancer Screening Program – A Camp Based Cross Sectional Study Among Rural Women in North Kerala. Sci J Public Health. 2017;5(3):215-223. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20170503.19

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  • @article{10.11648/j.sjph.20170503.19,
      author = {Usha Karunakaran and Namitha Thekkandathil and Binoo Divakaran and Mini Mol Joseph and Salini Kannankai and Jayasree Anandabhavan Kumaran},
      title = {Cervical Cancer Screening Program – A Camp Based Cross Sectional Study Among Rural Women in North Kerala},
      journal = {Science Journal of Public Health},
      volume = {5},
      number = {3},
      pages = {215-223},
      doi = {10.11648/j.sjph.20170503.19},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20170503.19},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjph.20170503.19},
      abstract = {Cervical cancer is ranked as the most frequent cancer in women in India and still remains a leading cause of cancer deaths because of high HPV infection rates and lack of comprehensive cervical Pap smear testing of susceptible women. There has been a regular campaign against cervical cancer for 30 years in India, but impact on the morbidity and mortality has been low, with India ranking fourth worldwide. A key challenge for cancer programs is encouraging women in the 30-55 year age group at highest risk for treatable, precancerous lesions, to seek pap smear screening camps. To increase attendance it is important to work in the community by approaching local women's groups and with their help increasing awareness, knowledge and accessibility of screening among women. In this study the investigators made an effort to increase camp attendance by involving women’s groups. We assessed the effect of involvement of women groups in comparison to previous camps, the awareness, attitude and practice of the disease, and its prevention, and the HPV vaccine among the women and finally studied the Pap smear results. A camp based cross sectional study was done in Karindalam village to assess pap smear tests, knowledge, attitude and practice regarding cancer cervix and its screening method. Community level women volunteers were used to mobilise women for the camp. Quantitative data was collected through face to face interview using a pre tested questionnaire and the pap smear test done. Analysis was done with descriptive statistics using epi info. There were 319 women who attended the camp. Out of these 99.7% were ever married. In our studied population 55% of the women were married before 20 years of age and 36% had their first child before 20 years of age. Fifty percent studied up to 10th  grade and around 50% belonged to the lower class. Majority of the women had inadequate knowledge about the disease symptoms (52.7%), risk factors (76%), preventive measures (65.5%), Pap smear method (91%) and HPV vaccine (8.4%). Reasons for not doing a Pap smear test so far were inadequate knowledge about the disease and test, fear of procedure and result, non availability of the test locally, being non symptomatic, and cultural factors. The Pap smear tests identified 2 (0.6%) women with high intra epithelial lesions, 4 (1.2%), endocervicitis and 3 (1%) with bacterial vaginosisand adequate follow up was offered. The government of India has to respond to the need of the hour and strengthen information, education and communication efforts on cervical cancer along with providing widespread screening facilities.},
     year = {2017}
    }
    

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    T1  - Cervical Cancer Screening Program – A Camp Based Cross Sectional Study Among Rural Women in North Kerala
    AU  - Usha Karunakaran
    AU  - Namitha Thekkandathil
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    AU  - Mini Mol Joseph
    AU  - Salini Kannankai
    AU  - Jayasree Anandabhavan Kumaran
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    JF  - Science Journal of Public Health
    JO  - Science Journal of Public Health
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    PB  - Science Publishing Group
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    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20170503.19
    AB  - Cervical cancer is ranked as the most frequent cancer in women in India and still remains a leading cause of cancer deaths because of high HPV infection rates and lack of comprehensive cervical Pap smear testing of susceptible women. There has been a regular campaign against cervical cancer for 30 years in India, but impact on the morbidity and mortality has been low, with India ranking fourth worldwide. A key challenge for cancer programs is encouraging women in the 30-55 year age group at highest risk for treatable, precancerous lesions, to seek pap smear screening camps. To increase attendance it is important to work in the community by approaching local women's groups and with their help increasing awareness, knowledge and accessibility of screening among women. In this study the investigators made an effort to increase camp attendance by involving women’s groups. We assessed the effect of involvement of women groups in comparison to previous camps, the awareness, attitude and practice of the disease, and its prevention, and the HPV vaccine among the women and finally studied the Pap smear results. A camp based cross sectional study was done in Karindalam village to assess pap smear tests, knowledge, attitude and practice regarding cancer cervix and its screening method. Community level women volunteers were used to mobilise women for the camp. Quantitative data was collected through face to face interview using a pre tested questionnaire and the pap smear test done. Analysis was done with descriptive statistics using epi info. There were 319 women who attended the camp. Out of these 99.7% were ever married. In our studied population 55% of the women were married before 20 years of age and 36% had their first child before 20 years of age. Fifty percent studied up to 10th  grade and around 50% belonged to the lower class. Majority of the women had inadequate knowledge about the disease symptoms (52.7%), risk factors (76%), preventive measures (65.5%), Pap smear method (91%) and HPV vaccine (8.4%). Reasons for not doing a Pap smear test so far were inadequate knowledge about the disease and test, fear of procedure and result, non availability of the test locally, being non symptomatic, and cultural factors. The Pap smear tests identified 2 (0.6%) women with high intra epithelial lesions, 4 (1.2%), endocervicitis and 3 (1%) with bacterial vaginosisand adequate follow up was offered. The government of India has to respond to the need of the hour and strengthen information, education and communication efforts on cervical cancer along with providing widespread screening facilities.
    VL  - 5
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

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