title: Knowledge and Awareness of Cervical Cancer among HIV-Infected Women in Ethiopia.
abstract: Introduction. Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death among Ethiopian women. Low awareness of cervical cancer, in combination with low health care seeking behavior, is a key challenge for cervical cancer prevention. This study assessed the knowledge of cervical cancer among HIV-infected women in Ethiopia.Methods. A facility-based cross-sectional survey was conducted from August to September 2012 among HIV-infected women between 21 and 49 years of age. Basic descriptive statistics were performed using SPSS.Results. A total of 432 HIV-infected women participated in this study. About 71% of participants had ever heard of cervical cancer. Among women who had ever heard of cervical cancer, 49% did not know the cause while 74% were able to identify at least one risk factor for cervical cancer. Only 33% of women were able to correctly address when women should seek care and 33% identified at least one treatment option for cervical cancer.Conclusion. This study revealed that knowledge about cervical cancer was generally low, in particular for health care seeking behavior and treatment of cervical cancer. Health awareness programs should be strengthened at both community and health facility levels with emphasis highlighting the causes, risk factors, care seeking behaviors, and treatment options for cervical cancer.
authors.affiliation: Pathfinder International, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Netsanet
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3960-7582
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shiferaw
authors.affiliation: Pathfinder International, Watertown, MA, USA; Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Mohamad I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.affiliation: United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), New York City, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Graciela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Salvador-Davila
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.
authors.forename: Shumet
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lonsako
authors.affiliation: Pathfinder International, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Konjit
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kassahun
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts General Hospital, Center for Global Health, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Jodi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ansel
authors.affiliation: Pathfinder International, Watertown, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Chidude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Osakwe
authors.affiliation: The United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Teklu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Weldegebreal
authors.affiliation: The United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Ismael
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Pathfinder International, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Mengistu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asnake
authors.affiliation: Stanford Program for International Reproductive Education and Services (SPIRES), Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Blumenthal