Screening and perceived severity of cervical cancer among women attending Mahalapye District Hospital, Botswana.
OBJECTIVE
The objectives of the study were to describe women's perceived severity to cervical cancer and its associations with socio-demographic characteristics.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted by a questionnaire survey with a total of 300 participants selected by convenience sampling techniques.


RESULTS
The participants' mean age was 37 years (SD= 11) and the cervical cancer screening rate was 39%. Most of the women were sure about the severity of cancer as they responded mostly agreeing or strongly agreeing with statements about severity of cervical cancer. The range of average responses was 2.58 to 3.56. When the ever screened and the never screened for cervical cancer was compared, it was observed that both groups equally believed that there is effective treatment for cervical cancer, and that cervical cancer makes a woman's life difficult. Overall, 60% of the never screened had low perceived severity while 33% of the screened had high perceived severity to cervical cancer. There was no significant association between perceived severity and screening for cervical cancer (c2 = 1.0795; p = 0.2988). Monthly income (c2= 13.077; p<0001) and residential area (c2= 15.457; p= 0.004) were significantly associated with perceived severity.


CONCLUSIONS
The screening rate is still far too low compared to the national target of greater than 75%. Therefore, despite awareness of the perceived severity of cervical cancer, the reasons why at risk women fail to participate in cervical cancer screening need to be adequately explored.
Hoque
Muhammad
M
Department of Biostatistics, National School of Public Health, University of Limpopo (Medunsa Campus), South Africa. Muhammad_Hoque@embanet.com
Ibekwe
C M
CM
Ntuli-Ngcobo
Busi
B
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001902:Botswana / Q000453:epidemiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016015:Logistic Models; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology