Abstract:
Background: Cervical cancer is the second female reproductive tract cancer and a major cause of women's cancer death worldwide. According to the Cervical Cancer Crisis Card 2013: 500,000 new cases are reported worldwide and it kills an estimated of275,000 women every year. In Ethiopia it is a
cause for 3,235 women total death in 20B.Most patients in developing countries, including
Ethiopia present late with advanced stage disease. Ethiopia has put in place a strategic goal to
reduce cancer incidence and mortality by 15% until 2020. This plan aimed to reach 50% of the
population with prevention awareness information, 80% coverage of screening by using Visual
Inspection of Acetic Acid test for non-symptomatic women aged 30-49 years. As priority given
by national strategy plan this study aimed to explore the women's knowledge at reproductive age
group (18-49 years) on cervical cancer.
Objectives: To determine level of Knowledge on cervical cancer among women aged 18-49
years and to assess associated factors in Kirkos sub city, Addis Ababa .Ethiopia.
Methods: Facility based cross-sectional study was conducted on eight health centers located in
Kirkos sub-city. Data was entered using EPI info version 7 and the data was exported to SPSS
version 20 software packages. The Data checked for completeness and consistency Bivariate and
multivariate analysis was carried out for data processing and analysis. The total sample size was
565 by using single proportion formula. Sample size for associated risk factors was calculated
using double population proportion formula. Simple random sampling used to select study
participants from the eligible women for study.
Results: The total size of the study subjects who were actual respondents during the data
collection period was 565. Of all respondents 315 (55.8%) had poor knowledge. Participants who
had information about cervical cancer, who had less than 3 children, who had single sexual
partner, who started first sex 15-20 and above 21-25 years ,who were married and live with their
partner and whose husbands were higher level graduates were statically significant to knowledge
on cervical cancer.
Conclusion & recommendation: There is low level of knowledge about cervical cancer and very low rate of screening practice for cervical cancer in Kirkos sub city. This study indicates the importance of awareness creation, increasing knowledge, promoting active searching for health information .The minister of health and stakeholders should have to give focus on the national policy for cervical cancer prevention strategy to be effectively implemented in health facility. Client centered regular health education in the health facility is important to increase women knowledge about the disease. It's also
important to use proven approaches in implementation of health extension programs like health
development army to create awareness in the community about cervical cancer.
........................................ Thesis available at ACIPH Library