title: Knowledge and beliefs on cervical cancer and practices on cervical cancer screening among women aged 20 to 50 years in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, 2012: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Burkina Faso, 1230 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year and 838 die from the disease. Little is known about women's practices, knowledge and beliefs regarding cervical cancer. This study aims to describe women's practices regarding cervical cancer screening and to assess their knowledge and beliefs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study was carried out in Ouagadougou from 1st to 31st December 2012 interviewing 840 women aged 20 to 50 years about their knowledge, beliefs and practices regarding cervical cancer. Cluster sampling was used. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed. Chi square test was used and p-value < 0.05 was considered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 840 women enrolled with mean age 29.5 ± 7.77 years, 66.31% were married, 59.28% have not been to school or left school at primary level. While 64.2% of participants heart about cervical cancer, 8.5% heart about Human papillomavirus, 69.05% don't know that cervical cancer is preventable. 90.4% of participants were worried to develop cervical cancer, 96.67% would accept to be screened and 11.07% were screened for cervical cancer. In multivariate analysis, heart about cervical cancer (OR = 5.7; 95% CI: 2.21-14.69), know contamination mode of HPV (OR = 3.81; 95% CI: 2.27-6.39), heart about HPV (OR = 2.05; 95% CI: 1.11-3.81) and use of oral contraceptive (OR = 2.06; 95% CI: 1.25-3.39) were independently associated with screening history with p < 0.05.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knowledge and belief regarding cervical cancer is limited among Ouagadougou women and screening rate is low. There is need to enhance health education regarding Human papillomavirus and cervical cancer.
authors.affiliation: Centre of International Research for Health, University of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sawadogo
authors.affiliation: African Field Epidemiology Network, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Sheba N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Gitta
authors.affiliation: African Field Epidemiology Network, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Elizeus
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rutebemberwa
authors.affiliation: Centre of International Research for Health, University of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Mamadou
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sawadogo
authors.affiliation: Centre of International Research for Health, University of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Meda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002050:Burkina Faso / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003469:Culture; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D017584:Reproductive History; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D014626:Vaginal Smears
keywords: Cervical cancer; beliefs; knowledge; practices; screening