title: Perceptions and practices of a pakistani population regarding cervical cancer screening.
abstract: Cervical cancer is among the three leading causes of cancers among females worldwide. It is also among the three most common causes of cancer deaths among females, about 80% of which occur in less developed countries. The present cross-sectional knowledge, attitude and practice survey was carried out to determine the perceptions and practices of a Pakistani female population regarding cervical cancer screening. Through convenient sampling, 192 subjects were recruited and administered a pre-tested and structured questionnaire. About 5% of subjects knew that screening was available for cervical cancer. Only 2.6% of the sample had ever received a Pap test. The most common reason cited for not having received a Pap test was the lack of information. In conclusion, the Pakistani population studied here demonstrated a very low coverage of the Pap test and a poor knowledge regarding its utility.
authors.affiliation: FMH College of Medicine and Dentistry, Lahore, Pakista.,*For Correspondence: E-mail: mrkhawaja@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sardar Zakariya
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Imam
authors.forename: Fatima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rehman
authors.forename: Malik Muhammad
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Zeeshan
authors.forename: Bilal
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Maqsood
authors.forename: Sameen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Asrar
authors.forename: Noor
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fatima
authors.forename: Fawad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aslam
authors.forename: Muhammad Rizwanul Haq
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Khawaja
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D012938:Social Perception; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*