Cervical Cancer Prevention Knowledge and Attitudes among Female University Students and Hospital Staff in Iran

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

1 Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

2 Women’s Reproductive Health Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

3 Students’ Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

4 Department of Psychiatry, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran

5 Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

6 Department of Health and Community Medicine, Dezful University of Medical Sciences, Dezful, Iran.

7 Department of Health and Community Medicine, Dezful University of Medical Sciences, Dezful, Iran

Abstract

 
Background: Cervical cancer is a major preventable cancers. The, current study aimed to assess relevant knowledge and attitude of female students and hospital staff in Iran. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Medical and Nursing faculties and hospitals of East-Azerbaijan Province of Iran. Participants were medical and paramedical female students and female staff in hospitals selected by stratified random sampling techniques. Tools for data collection were questionnaires for which validity and reliability had been verified (α=0.8). Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze data with SPSS.16. Result: Response rates were 71 % (426 from 600) and 63.5% (254 from 400) for students and staff, respectively. Some 29.1% admitted that they had no information about cervical cancer, only 70 (10.3%) thinking their knowledge as high, 360 (52.9%) as intermediate, and 237 (34.9%) as low. While 93% of participants considered cervical cancer as a severe health problem, the only statistically significant relationships with knowledge were for education (p<.001) and occupation (p<.001) variables. Conclusion: Given the importance of the roles of medical students and personnel as information sources and leaders in health and preventive behavior, increasing and improving their scientific understanding seems vital. Comprehensive and appropriate education of all people and especially students and personnel of medical sciences and improving attitudes towards cervical cancer and its monitoring are to be recommended.

Keywords

Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
Volume 17, Issue 11
November 2016
Pages 4921-4927

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History

  • Receive Date: 15 September 2016
  • Revise Date: 23 November 2016
  • Accept Date: 28 December 2016

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