A Descriptive Study to assess the awareness of the Women
regarding Cervical Cancer
Sharanjit Kaur1, Bhupinder Kaur2
1
Lecturer, 2Associate Professor, University College of Nursing, Faridkot, Punjab
Abstract Therefore a descriptive study was undertaken in
Gynaecology OPD of G.G.S. Medical College and Hospital,
In most of the developing countries including India,
Faridkot (Punjab) to assess the awareness of the women
carcinoma of the cervix is the most common malignancy in
regarding cervical cancer and to seek the association of
the females. But, it is the easiest female cancer to prevent
cervical cancer and womens awareness level with selected
through screening using pap smear if people are aware of its
variables.
early prevention. Therefore, a study was conducted to assess
the awareness of women regarding cervical cancer and its Material and methods
association with selected variables. In view of the nature of
the problem a descriptive approach and non-experimental Keeping in view the nature of problem, Betty Neumans health
research design was chosen for the study. The conceptual care systems model was adopted for the study. This study
framework of the study was based on Betty Newmans Health was conducted on 300 women those who visited gynae
system model. The study was conducted on a group of 300 OPD of GGS medical college hospital from December 2009 -
women visiting Gynecology OPD of Guru Gobind Singh Feb 2010. The women within the age group of 18-70 years,
Medical College Hospital, Faridkot, Punjab. A Self structured can Understand Punjabi, Hindi or English and Willing to
interview schedule was used to assess the awareness of the participate were included in the study while those Women
women. who were too sick to respond were excluded.
The findings of the study showed that 37.7% of the Study approval was taken from Ethical committee of
women had adequate awareness while 62.3% were University college of Nursing, Faridkot. A written permission
inadequately aware of cervical cancer. By using pearsons chi from medical superintendent and head of Obstetric and
square as method of statistical analysis a significant Gynaecology department of Guru Gobind Singh Medical
association was found between awareness level of the College and Hospital, Faridkot was taken before launching
women and their educational status, age at marriage, the study.
occupation, monthly family income, H/O menstrual disorder Informed written consent had been taken from the study
at p<0.05. This concluded that inspite of being the most subjects. Self Structured interview schedule was used to
common malignancy in the females, they are inadequately collect necessary demographic data and information
aware of it. Therefore awareness campaigns should be concerning cervical cancer. The tool was divided into two
arranged to make the people aware of this dreadly but parts.
preventable disease. Part 1 (a): This part included demographic data of women
about Age, Marital status, Age at marriage, Education, Parity,
Key Words occupation, Socio-Economic status, Religion, place of living,
H/O menstrual disorders, H/O post coital bleeding and H/O
Cervical cancer, Incidence, pap smear, awareness,
STIs or HIV/AIDS.
Introduction Part 1 (b): This part consisted of 20 items to assess the
awareness of women regarding cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer is an important public health problem for Each question had three responses yes, no and do not know.
adult women in developing countries, where it is the most or For correct response, the score was 1 and for incorrect
second most common cancer among women.1. Developing response or do not know score was 0. So the maximum
countries accounted for 370 000 out of a total of 466 000 possible score was 20 and minimum possible score was 0.
cases of cervical cancer that were estimated to occur in the
world in the year 2000.2 India, which accounts for one sixth Findings
of the worlds population, also bears one fifth of the worlds
Descriptive and inferential statistics mean, standard
burden of cervical cancer.1 Its prevalence in India ranges
deviation, mean% and 2 were calculated. The statistical
between 20-50% of all genital tract malignancies3. Cervical
analysis was done with the help of SPSS software version
cancer is reported to be responsible for almost 20 percent of
14.0. The level of significance, <0.05 was selected for the
all female deaths annually in India.4 In Punjab, Malwa region
study.
is cancer prone area and in Faridkot area cervical cancer
1. Findings related to awareness of women regarding
accounts for about 20% of all the female cancers5. It is the
cervical cancer.
easiest female cancer to prevent through screening if people
Mean score of the study subjects was 8.09 (40.45%).
are aware of its early prevention. So far no such study to
Only 37.7% of the study subjects had adequate awareness
assess the awareness of the women regarding cervical cancer
regarding cervical cancer while 62.3% were inadequately
has been conducted in this cancer belt. Moreover the rising
aware. [Table 2 (a), 2(b)]
count of patients being diagnosed with cervical cancer made
the investigator to take up this problem.
66 International Journal of Nursing Education. Jan-June, 2012, Vol. 4, No. 1
Table 2 (b). Frequency, Range and Percentage distribution
Table 2 (a). Mean, SD and Mean percentage of the womens
of level of awareness of women regarding cervical cancer
awareness regarding cervical cancer
N=300
N=300
Level of awareness Range n Percentage
Awareness Mean SD Mean Maximum Minimum
Adequate 50% and above, of
score percentage obtained obtained
maximum possible
score score
score (score e10) 113 37.7
Cervical
Inadequate <50% of
cancer 8.09 3.68 40.45 16 1
maximum possible
Maximum possible score= 20
score ( score <10 ) 187 62.3
Minimum possible score= 0
Maximum possible score= 20
Minimum possible score= 0
2. Findings related to association of awareness of
cervical cancer among women with selected variables
A statistically significant association was found between
O menstrual disorders (Table 3) at p<0.05 but a statistically
awareness level of the women with their educational status,
insignificant relationship was observed with age, religion,
occupation, age at marriage, monthly family income and H/
place of living, marrital status, parity, any H/O Postcoital
bleeding and Any H/O HIV/AIDS or STD.
Table 3. Association of Awareness of cervical cancer among
women with significant variables Discussion
N=300 The present study showed that majority of the women
Educational Chi Square 62.3% had inadequate awareness and 37.7% had adequate
status Awareness Total and p value awareness regarding cervical cancer. The findings are
Adequate Inadequate consistent with other studies. Tebeu P M et al (2007)1 28%
n(%) n (%) belonged to the aware group compared with 72% women
Illiterate 15 64 who were in unaware group (UG). Nwankwo K.C (2010)2
(19.0) (81.0) 79 29.881 49.8% and Tricia S Tang (2008)3 84% had inadequate
(p<0.001) awareness. In present study a significant association was
Primary 17 (34.7) 32 (65.3) 49 df=6 found between awareness level of the women and their
Middle 14 (38.9) 22 (61.1) 36 0.000 educational status, age at marriage, occupation, monthly
Matric 22 (38.6) 35 (61.4) 57 family income, H/O menstrual disorder at p<0.05, The
Senior findings are consistent with Tebeu P M et al (2007)6 where
Secondary 23 (51.1) 22 (48.9) 45 The Unaware Group of women were illiterate, housewives,
Graduation 13 (54.2) 11 (45.8) 24 and had their first child before the age of 20 (P < 0.005),
Post Nwankwo K.C (2010)7 The awareness significantly varied with
Graduation the level of educational attainment (P < 0.0001). Obiechina
& Above 9 (90.0) 1 (10.0) 10 NJ et al (2009)4 and Donders GG et al. (2008)5 There was
Total 113 187 300 significant association between the educational status and
Occupation the knowledge of cervical cancer
Labourer 2 (9.1) 20 (90.9) 22 17.929
Skilled 2 (20.0) 8 (80.0) 10 df=3 Conclusion
House Wife 95 (38.3) 153 (61.7) 248 0.000 Here, this is to conclude that women are inadequately
Professional 14 (70.0) 6 (30.0) 20 (p<0.001) aware of cervical cancer and their awareness level is affected
Total 113 187 300 by their education, age at marriage and occupation. However
Monthly family income the association with socio-economic status and H/O
5,000 22 (22.4) 76 (77.6) 98 14.947 menstrual disorders needs to be further explored.
50,01-10,000 45 (46.4) 52 (53.6) 97 df=3
10,001-20,00030 (41.7) 42 (58.3) 72 0.002 Acknowledgement
20,001 &
We thank head of the department and Medical
above 16 (48.5) 17 (51.5) 33 (p<0.01)
superintendent G.G.S medical college hospital who allowed
Total 113 187 300
us to collect data. Statistician G.G.S Medical college, for his
Age at Marriage
help in data analysis.
<18 13 (19.4) 54 (80.6) 67 24.174
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