Attitudes and Practice of Cervical Cancer Screening among Female University Students from 25 Low, Middle Income and Emerging Economy Countries

Abstract

Cervical cancer, the third commonest cancer in women worldwide, can be prevented through early detection by cervical screening (Pap smear). The aim of this study was to investigate the attitudes and practice of cervical cancer screening among female undergraduate university students from 25 low, middle income and emerging economy countries. Using anonymous questionnaires, data were collected from 9,194 female undergraduate university students aged 18-26 years (mean age 20.9, SD=2.0) from 26 universities in 25 countries across Asia, Africa and the Americas. Overall, 11.6% of the female students indicated that they had conducted one or more times a cervical (Pap) smear test; 8.3% among 18-20 year-olds and 15.6% among 21-26 year-old students. There was considerable country variation on having had a cervical (Pap) smear test among 21-26 year-old female university students, ranging from 59.2% in Colombia and 50.9% in Barbados to 0% in India and 1.0% in Tunesia. Logistic regression showed that cervical cancer screening importance or positive attitude were highly associated with the cervical screening practice. Moreover, risky sexual behaviour and tobacco use, two cervical cancer risk factors, were associated with screening. Cervical cancer screening practices were found to be inadequate and efforts should be made to develop programmes that can increase the uptake of cervical cancer screening.

Avaliação da não realização do exame Papanicolaou por meio do Sistema de Vigilância por inquérito telefônico

“…The individual self-assessment of health status as regular, poor or very poor may be the result of choices and adoption of unhealthy habits, such as cigarette smoking. A previous study also showed the lower adherence of smoker women to the Pap test compared to non-smokers (23) . This is a serious situation, given that smoking interferes with the incidence and prevalence of HPV infection and is associated with invasive cervical cancer (2,24) .…”

“…This is a serious situation, given that smoking interferes with the incidence and prevalence of HPV infection and is associated with invasive cervical cancer (2,24) . Thus, individuals with less healthy habits such as lack of physical activity, unbalanced diet, and high alcohol consumption may be less likely to undergo preventive exams such as the Pap test (23) .…”

Challenges of health promotion and education strategies to prevent cervical cancer in India: A systematic review

“…Overall, 77 papers and one dissertation were eligible for analysis and were listed in the order of publication years. [171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546474849505152535455565758596061626364656667686970717273747576777879808182838485868788899091929394] The review process is explained in Figure 1.…”

“…The studies consist of different populations such as women and men from different community groups[17202425313235394143454751616669717379808586909293]And attended clinics[2729425259676872757682]Students (nursing/medical/paramedical/nonmedical)[3840464850565860646974818389]Health-care providers (doctors, nurses, and other health workers);[1828365354555657626365667778889194] migrated Indians;[1921262730333437498487] and cervical cancer patients. [23]…”

Inadequate Practice Related of the Papanicolaou Test Among Women

“…16 A broad survey of 9,194 women aged 18-26 years in 25 countries across Asia, Africa and the Americas, noted that the cervical cancer screening practices were considered inadequate and efforts should be made to develop programs that can increase screening for cervical cancer, 17 showing that this issue is wide ranging, requiring specific actions for change in the health promotion of women.…”