Cervical Cancer Screening and Prevention: An Analysis of Beliefs and Predictors of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice in Northern India

Introduction: Carcinoma of the cervix is still one of the leading causes of mortality among Indian women despite the availability of various screening modalities. Breakthrough in HPV vaccine further targeted to reduce these mortality rates. But knowledge of the women about cervical cancer and awareness of its prevention are the key factors that determine their practice for screening of cervical cancer. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in the department of obstetrics and gynaecology of VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital. A total of 500 women attending outpatient clinic over 3 months were enrolled in a questionnaire-based survey to access knowledge, attitude and practice toward screening and prevention of cancer cervix. Results: The mean age of study population was 31.73 years. Most of the women were in 21–35 years age group. Majority of women (73%) were aware that cervical cancer is preventable, and 58.6% knew about the availability of screening tests for the same. Despite this, only 3% women underwent screening for cervical cancer. Source for this awareness was a visit to doctor in majority of women. Only 2% women were aware of role of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in cervical cancer, and almost all women (99%) were willing to get vaccinated, if provided free of cost. Conclusion: Screening is a preventive service which is not considered as a priority by asymptomatic women. So, motivational programs involving community leaders and also the males in the family may prove to be beneficial to achieve goals to reduce incidence of cervical carcinoma by screening and vaccination. © 2017, Association of Gynecologic Oncologists of India.