title: Awareness of ovarian cancer risk factors among women in Malaysia: a preliminary study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ovarian cancer is recognized as the fourth leading cancer in Malaysia. However, women do not always seek help in a timely manner and gaps in awareness may influence screening uptake and presentation. The purpose of this study was to determine levels of awareness of ovarian cancer risk factors in female population in Penang, Malaysia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted in Penang, Malaysia from January until February 2014. Eighty-seven women were selected by convenient sampling. Awareness of risk factors of ovarian cancer was assessed using a self-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 for descriptive statistics and Pearson chi-square test for the association between socio-demographic data and awareness. A p value ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 74.7% of participants answered correctly for the risk factor of increasing age, although 94.3% were unaware of increased risk of tall women. A majority, 71.3%, had a low level of awareness of ovarian cancer risk factors. There was a significant association between age and knowledge (p=0.047). Additionally, there was a significant association between higher education level and level of awareness of ovarian cancer risk factors (p=0.039).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study revealed that awareness of ovarian cancer risk factors among Malaysian women is low. The results show a need for improved public understanding about ovarian cancer risks and provision of important information for health professionals about initiatives needed for future awareness, prevention and screening programs.
authors: School of Health Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia E-mail : soonlk@usm.my.
authors: Soon Lean
authors: SL
authors: Keng
authors: Syakirah Bainun
authors: SB
authors: Abdul Wahab
authors: Lim Bee
authors: LB
authors: Chiu
authors: Azlina
authors: A
authors: Yusuf
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult