Knowledge, attitude and practice on cervical cancer and screening: a survey of men and women in Swaziland

Background Cervical cancer is the most common cancer among females in Swaziland, yet the screening rate remains low. The study intended to explore the knowledge, attitudes and practice on cervical cancer and screening. Methods A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among 202 men and 213 women aged 30-65 years. The participants were from the Manzini and Shiselweni regions of Swaziland, sampled from both rural (77.8%) and urban areas. Results About half (53.5%) of women and 22.8% of men correctly named at least one symptom of cervical cancer. Many (58.1%) participants had misconceptions on the risk factors of cervical cancer, such as witchcraft, abortion, or birth control. Only 5.2% of the women had been screened. Among women, 40.0% reported that they need to seek their spouses' permission to visit the clinic. Men with less misconceptions on cervical cancer heard of screening and with no preference of the gender of the health care worker were more likely to report that they would allow their partners to be screened. Conclusions Men have less knowledge on cervical cancer yet may make important health related decisions for women. There is a need for comprehensive education on cervical cancer for both women and men.