Abstract:
Introduction: Cancer of the cervix is said to be the commonest cancer second to breast cancer worldwide yet it causes the highest cancer deaths occurring among women. Cervical cancer prevalence rate remains very high in most developing countries including Ghana despite the introduction of its prevention as well as treatment options. The study therefore sought to assess the knowledge and awareness of cervical cancer and cervical cancer screening among these women in the Asante Akim area.
Methods: The study was a cross-sectional study which was carried out at the Agogo Presbyterian Hospital employing a quantitative approach. Three hundred and forty one women were randomly selected to be part of the study. The data was collected using an interview with a structured questionnaire and analyzed using STATA version 15. Continuous variables such as age were summarized using descriptive statistics and were expressed as means as well as standard deviation, whilst categorical variables were summarized into frequencies and percentages.
To assess the relationship and strength of association between the independent and the dependent variables, the Fisher’s exact test analysis was used.
Results: Based on the responses received, cervical cancer and screening awareness level was low with a percentage of 20.4% and the percentage of women with adequate knowledge among those who were aware of cervical was equally low with 25.0%. The main source of cervical cancer information as elicited by the study was the media consisting of radio, television and internet. The study also reported low cervical cancer screening uptake with a percentage of 2.9% and also found out that majority of the women (54.4%) did not intend or had not decided to go for the cervical cancer screening which was largely due to low cervical cancer and screening knowledge and awareness. The results show that educational status, type of occupation as well as access to information and services are statistically significant in determining the individual respondents’ awareness and knowledge level regarding cervical cancer and screening, with a P-value of 0.001, 0.000 and 0.011 respectively.
Conclusion: Cervical cancer knowledge and awareness level is low among reproductive aged women attending the Agogo Presbyterian Hospital. Hence there is the need to implement strategic interventions to help increase the awareness and knowledge level among women in the Asante Akim district and its environs.
