Knowledge, Attitude & Practice Regarding Cervical Cancer among Rural Community Women in Northeast Thailand
BACKGROUND:
Cervical
cancer is the second most common malignancy among women worldwide, and women of
reproductive age in Thailand. However, information on the behavior regarding
cervical cancer in rural community Thailand is sparse.
OBJECTIVE:
To
assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding cervical cancer (CC)
among rural community women in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, using predesigned
structured questionnaires.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
A
cross-sectional survey was conducted in 8 villages of Non Sung district, Nakhon
Ratchasima province, Thailand, during January to April 2015. Bloom's taxonomy
was used as a framework for the study. 265 women aged between 30-60 years old
were selected by simple random sampling. All participants completed predesigned
questionnaires with 4 parts: demographic data, knowledge, attitude, and
practice regarding cervical cancer. Descriptive statistics were used for
analysis in this study.
RESULTS:
The
majority of participants were in the age group of 41-50 years old (42.6%) with
senior secondary school level of education (32.1%), marriage status (85.0%),
agricultural employment (59.6%), and family income between 6,000- 10,000 baht
per month (54.3%). Some 63.4% and 68.7% participants had high knowledge and
moderate level of attitudes regarding CC, while 41.1%, 48.7%, and 10.2% had
neem regularly, irregularly or never screened for CC, respectively. The main
reasons for not screening were were shyness (44.4%) and no time (55.6%).
Vaginal discharge and itching were the common signs and symptoms of
participants who were screened at a health promotion hospital of sub-district.
CONCLUSIONS:
CC
is still a health problem in the rural community. Therefore, health education
is required, particularly for those who have never undergone screening.
By: Mongsawaeng C1, Kokorn N, Kujapun J, Norkaew J, Kootanavanichpong N, Chavenkun W, Ponphimai S, Kaewpitoon SJ, Tongtawee T, Padchasuwan N,Pengsaa P, Kompor P, Kaewpitoon N.
- 1Department of Public Health, Faculty of Public Health, Vongchavalitkul University, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand E-mail : natthawut.k@hotmail. com, natthawut_kae@vu.ac.th.
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