Background Breast cancer (BC) is an important reason for mortality rates in Somalian women. In Somalia, many women are late in applying to the hospital for the diagnosis of BC. Breast self-examination (BSE) is considered an important early detection method for BC in encouraging women to learn to practice BSE, especially for women in developing countries. This study purposed to determine knowledge, and belief of BC and BSE and BSE practice among women in Mogadishu, Somalia using the champion health belief model (CHBM). Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on 413 women who were between 18 and 49 years of age. The data were collected by using sociodemographic variables (age, marital status, education level, income status), Champion’s Health Belief Model Scale (CHBMS), and an introductory questionnaire with questions about BC and BSE and between October 2020 and January 2021 in Mogadishu, Somalia. Further descriptive statistics, the Mann–Whitney U test, and Kruskal–Wallis analysis test were used to assess data that were not normally distributed. Results Average age of participants was 22 ± 11.21 years. Only 35.4% of participants had information about BC, 37.8% had heard about BSE before, 25.2% knew BSE, and only 17.2% had done it. Income status, marital status, and age of first birth family were significantly associated with perceived sensitivity, health motivation, convenience, perceived benefits, and self-efficacy for BSE. Overall, the total scores of CHBMS were significantly higher among those who had heard and knowledge about BSE and practiced clinical breast examination (CBE). For the sub-dimensions of perceived sensitivity, health motivation, perceived benefits, barrier, and self-efficacy BSE with hearing about BSE, practicing BSE, knowing to practice BSE, knowing early detection methods of BC and practice CBE significant differences were observed (P < 0.005). Conclusion This study showed that BSE practice among Somalian women was very low, and they don’t have sufficient knowledge about BSE and BC. Furthermore, this study revealed that many CHBMS significantly related to BSE practice in Somalian women, suggesting that BSE health education programs with CHBMS.
Background Despite the early diagnosis and treatment of cervical cancer, it is still a significant public health problem in Somalia. This study was conducted to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of healthcare professionals towards the early diagnosis of cervical cancer. Methods This study was conducted in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, between December 2020 and February 2021. The cross-sectional study consisted of a total of 280 healthcare professionals. The study data was collected using a questionnaire consisting of 38 questions evaluating the knowledge and attitudes of all healthcare professionals towards the early diagnosis of cervical cancer, an additional 15 questions for women only, and a total of 43 questions. Results 22.1% of the participants received cervical cancer training during vocational education and training. Cervical cancer education after graduation is 16.8%, and the rate of providing education to patients is only 29.6%. The rate of female healthcare professionals having a Pap smear test is 2%. The participants' cervical cancer total knowledge score was 16.5 ± 6.69, and the success rate was 63.46. The highest success rate in knowledge subgroup questions was HPV questions with 69.6. A statistically significant difference was found between the participants' profession, training on the subject during their vocational education, and total knowledge scores (p < 0.001). When the knowledge question subscales were compared, a significant difference was found between participants' gender and HPV questions subscale score (p = 0.028). A statistically significant difference was found between the participants' professions, receiving training on the subject during vocational training, and all subscales (p < 0.05). A statistically significant difference was found between the participants' income status and risk factors questions scores (p = 0.026). Conclusion This study shows that the knowledge and training of healthcare professionals working in a training and research hospital in Somalia for early cervical cancer diagnosis are not sufficient. In addition, it reveals that female healthcare professionals have almost no Pap smears. Therefore, studies and training should be planned to train all healthcare professionals, especially female healthcare professionals, and overcome all possible obstacles to the acceptance of the screening tests by women.
Background: Awareness and knowledge of cervical cancer and HPV are consistently poor in developing countries. In addition, there is insufficient evidence for young people's knowledge and understanding of cervical cancer, risk factors, screening and HPV vaccination in these countries. This study was conducted to determine the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of students studying at a university in Somalia about cervical cancer and prevention methods. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among students of the Faculty of Health Sciences at a private university in Mogadishu, Somalia, between January to March 2021. The sample of study consisted of a total of 220 female students. The data of the study were collected using a questionnaire consisting of 32 questions evaluating the knowledge and attitudes of the students about cervical cancer, HPV and HPV vaccine. Results:In our study, 59.1% of the participants stated that they had heard of cervical cancer before, 69.1% did not know that it was fatal, 49.1% stated that it was preventable, 48.2% did not know the causes of cervical cancer, and 2.7% had a family history of cervical cancer. In addition, it was determined that 75.9% of the participants did not know that HPV caused cervical cancer. When the knowledge status of the participants about HPV and HPV vaccine was examined, it was determined that 55% of them had not heard of HPV before. When asked about the transmission ways of HPV; respectively, kissing (73.2%), sexual intercourse (58.2%) and using the things of individuals infected with HPV (41.8%). None of the participants had received the HPV vaccine. 72.3% of them stated that they did not have any information as the reason for not being vaccinated. 40.9% of the participants stated that both boys and girls should be vaccinated, and 63.6% stated that they did not know at what age they should be vaccinated. In addition, 71.4% stated that they did not know that the HPV vaccine protects against sexually transmitted diseases. The results show that there is a statistically significant relationship only between the economic situation and the awareness variable (p<0.005). It was concluded that the awareness of the participants, whose economic situation was good, was statistically high. Conclusion: Our first study on the subject in Somalia, it has been revealed that the level of knowledge and vaccination rates of female university students studying in the field of health sciences about HPV vaccine, cervical cancer and prevention methods are insufficient. In future studies, the reasons for these inadequacies can be revealed with more comprehensive studies.
This study aimed to determine the healthy lifestyle behaviors of students at a university in Mogadishu, Somalia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 347 university students >16 in Mogadishu, Somalia, from October to December 2020. The data were collected by using a self-administered questionnaire and the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II (HPLP-II) Scale throughout that period. Demographic characteristics and health- promoting lifestyle were evaluated. T-test, Anova, post hoc (Tukey, LSD) and multiple regression analysis were used for statistical analyses. The healthy lifestyle behavior point averages of the students were found to be at a medium level (125.8±24.60). A significant difference was found in the total mean HPLP-II scores by gender, age, diagnosis of health problems, and exercise habits (p<0.05). The data showed significant associations among some subscales of the HPLP-II, gender, age, education level of mother, income status and have a chronic health problem, while participating in sporting activities was found to be statistically significant with all subscales of the HPLP-II (p < 0.05). Students’ lifestyle behaviors were found to be moderately healthy. Intervention studies are needed to support Somali students in making healthy lifestyle choices and improve their health promotion attitudes.
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