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VOLUME 7 , ISSUE 1 ( January-June, 2019 ) > List of Articles

Original Article

Knowledge and Awareness of Cervical Cancer and its Prevention amongst Nursing Staff in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Bindiya Gupta, Vikas Lakha, Shalini Rajaram

Keywords : Cervical cancer, Human papillomavirus, Pap smear, Postcoital bleeding

Citation Information : Gupta B, Lakha V, Rajaram S. Knowledge and Awareness of Cervical Cancer and its Prevention amongst Nursing Staff in a Tertiary Care Hospital. J South Asian Feder Menopause Soc 2019; 7 (1):5-7.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10032-1161

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 01-06-2018

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2019; The Author(s).


Abstract

Objective: To study the knowledge, attitude, and practices of nurses at a tertiary center regarding cervical cancer and preventive strategies. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional survey of cervical cancer screening awareness was conducted amongst 200 nurses at a tertiary care hospital in Delhi. A questionnaire was circulated after taking informed consent. The main factors studied included risk factors, sign and symptoms, screening, and prevention strategies. Results: In the present study, 70% of the staff nurses were aware of one or more symptoms of cervical cancer. Sixty percent were aware of HPV as a causative organism and 70% were aware of one or more risk factors. An estimated 76% of respondents were aware of a Pap smear as screening method, but only 11% had a Pap smear ever. Majority of them did not know about visual-inspection screening techniques. Only 58.9% were aware of the availability of a vaccine; of them only 27% knew about the age of administration of the vaccine and 10% were aware of the vaccination schedule. Conclusion: Knowledge of cancer cervix screening and vaccination was low among nursing staff. There is a need for periodic reorientation courses and integration of cervical cancer prevention issues in their existing curriculum.


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