title: Knowledge of cervical cancer among 25-54-year-old women in Beijing.
abstract: The purpose of this study is to examine knowledge of cervical cancer and the relationship between knowledge of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and cervical disease in a largely representative Beijing population. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted in a Beijing population sample of married women ages 25 to 54 years (n = 6,339), evaluating knowledge and relevant factors with regard to cervical cancer. Knowledge levels were low; only 52.5% (n = 3,328) of the respondents knew that cervical cancer can be detected in its early stage. Only 26.9% reported that human HPV infections were risk factors for cervical cancer. The level of knowledge was lower among older, with less education, less income, unstable profession, and non-Beijing Hukou women (all P < 0.01). An increasing level of knowledge may impact positively on intentions to participate in cervical cancer screening. Education schemes to improve knowledge of cervical cancer should be performed in a multimodel, multichannel method.
authors.affiliation: Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100026, China.
authors.forename: Caiyan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Weiyuan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Minghui
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Songwen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology