title: Perception and risk factors for cervical cancer among women in northern Ghana.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study assessed the perception of risk of cervical cancer and existence of risk factors for cervical cancer based on five known risk factors among women attending the Tamale Teaching Hospital in Tamale, Ghana.
  
  
  METHODS
  A consecutive sample of 300 women was interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire to inquire about risk factors and perception of risk of cervical cancer. Specific risk factors that were explored included early coitarche, multiple sexual partners, polygamous relationships, history of smoking, and having a current partner who had multiple sexual partners.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-one per cent of women reported that they had no personal risk for cervical cancer. 27% of respondents were in polygamous relationships, and of those, more than half didn't think they were at an increased risk of cervical cancer. 2 women had a total of ≥ 5 sexual partners in their lifetime and neither believed they were at any risk for cervical cancer. 23% said their current partner had had at least 2 sexual partners in his lifetime, and of those, (61%) thought they were at no risk for cervical cancer. 46% of respondents reported not having any of the risk factors listed in the study. 23% of respondents reported having one risk factor while 21% had two risk factors and 11% had three or more risk factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women's perception of personal risk for cervical cancer is lower than their actual risk based on the five behavioural risk factors assessed and a lack of knowledge of the personal factors for the disease.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  This project was supported by NIH Research Training Grant #R25 TW009345 funded by the Fogarty International Centre, in partnership with several NIH Institutes (NIMH, NIGMS, NHLBI, OAR and OWH).
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Tamale Teaching Hospital, P.O.Box 16, Tamale, Ghana.
authors.forename: Constance A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Opoku
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Edmund Nii Laryea
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Browne
authors.affiliation: Family Medicine Unit at Polyclinic Directorate, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Spangenberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Education, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moyer
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Tamale Teaching Hospital, Tamale, Ghana.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kolbilla
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, 1018 Fuller Street, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Katherine J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Gold
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cervical Cancer; Northern Ghana; Perceptions; Risk