title: Raising awareness and providing free screening improves cervical cancer screening among economically disadvantaged Lebanese/Armenian women.
abstract: Women need to practice cervical screening regularly to reduce morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of an intervention program on knowledge, attitude, and practice of cervical screening in the population of Lebanese/Armenian women. The design was a cross-sectional, quasi-experimental posttest survey following a year long intervention program. The sample included 176 women, who were members of the Armenian Relief Cross in Lebanon. Interventions consisted of educational classes, media messages, and free screening. The instrument was a self-administered questionnaire. Knowledge of women with intervention was higher (p > .05) and practice rate increased between intervention and comparison groups. No difference in attitude was noted. The study was successful in raising awareness and increasing screening in the sample. It is recommended to continue helping women to overcome barriers for cervical screening.
authors.affiliation: American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arevian
authors.forename: Samar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Noureddine
authors.forename: Tamar
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kabakian-Khasholian
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001136:Armenia; D001364:Awareness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007861:Lebanon; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008489:Medical Indigency; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011203:Poverty / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017664:Uncompensated Care; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014930:Women / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology