Knowledge of Risk Factors, Symptoms and Barriers to Seeking Medical Help for Cervical Cancer among Omani Women Attending Sultan Qaboos University Hospital

• Published in: Sultan Qaboos University medical journal Vol. 20; no. 3; pp. 301 - 309
• Main Authors: Al-Saidi , Maytha, Al-Azri , Mohammed H, Panchatcharam , Sathiya M, Al-Mutairi , Eman
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Muscat - Oman Sultan Qaboos Uinversity : Academic Publication Board 01-08-2020; Sultan Qaboos University, College of Medicine and Health Sciences; Sultan Qaboos University; Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, College of Medicine & Health Sciences
• Subjects: Adult; Age; CANCER; Cervical cancer; CERVICAL DISEASES; Clinical & Basic Research; Cross-Sectional Studies; Early Detection of Cancer - methods; Female; Gynecology; Health care; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Help-Seeking Behavior; Hospitals; Hospitals, University - organization & administration; Hospitals, University - statistics & numerical data; Human papillomavirus; Humans; KNOWLEDGE; Low income groups; Medical prognosis; Medical screening; Medical students; OMAN; Patients; Questionnaires; Risk Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; SYMPTOMS; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - diagnosis; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - therapy; UTERINE DISEASES; Vagina; WOMEN; Womens health; أمراض الرحم; أمراض العنق; الأعراض; المرأة; المعرفة; عمان; مرض السرطان; Oman; Women; Cervical Cancer; Awareness; Risk Factors; Health Care Seeking Behavior; Knowledge; Oman
• ISSN: 2075-051X; 2075-0528
• DOI: 10.18295/squmj.2020.20.03.009

Objectives : this study aimed to assess knowledge and attitudes among Omani woman regarding cervical cancer risk factors and symptoms as well as barriers to them seeking medical help. methods : this cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2017 and march 2018 at the sultan Qaboos university hospital (SQUH) in Muscat, Oman. a validated Arabic-language version of the cervical cancer awareness measure questionnaire was used to collect data from 550 Omani women visiting SQUH during the study period. results : a total of 490 women participated(response rate: 89.1%) in this study. overall, the women demonstrated low levels of knowledge of cervical cancer risk factors and symptoms (28.5% and 45.0%, respectively). the most frequently recognised risk factor was having many children (36.1%), while the most recognised symptom was unexplained vaginal bleeding (69.8%). women reported that being too scared was the greatest barrier to seeking medical help (68.0%). various factors were significantly associated with greater knowledge of cervical cancer signs and symptoms including education level (odds ratio [or] = 2.85; 95% confidence interval [ci]: 1.0–8.22; p <0.05), income (or = 4.34; 95% ci: 1.70–11.12; p <0.05), parity (or = 3.59; 95% ci: 1.38–9.36; p <0.05) and a family history of cancer (or = 1.71; ci: 1.0–2.90; p <0.05). conclusion: overall, Omani women demonstrated poor knowledge with regards to cervical cancer; in addition, they identified several emotional barriers to seeking medical help. healthcare practitioners should reassure female patients to encourage care-seeking behaviour. a national screening programme is also recommended to increase awareness and early diagnosis of cervical cancer in Oman.