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Tapera R, Manyala E, Erick P, et al. Knowledge and Attitudes towards Cervical Cancer Screening amongst University of Botswana Female Students. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2017;18(9):2445-2450doi: 10.22034/APJCP.2017.18.9.2445.
Tapera, R., Manyala, E., Erick, P., Maswabi, T. M., Tumoyagae, T., Letsholo, B., & Mbongwe, B. (2017). Knowledge and Attitudes towards Cervical Cancer Screening amongst University of Botswana Female Students. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP, 18(9), 2445-2450. https://doi.org/10.22034/APJCP.2017.18.9.2445
Tapera, Roy, et al. "Knowledge and Attitudes towards Cervical Cancer Screening amongst University of Botswana Female Students." Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP vol. 18,9 (2017): 2445-2450. doi: https://doi.org/10.22034/APJCP.2017.18.9.2445
Tapera R, Manyala E, Erick P, Maswabi TM, Tumoyagae T, Letsholo B, Mbongwe B. Knowledge and Attitudes towards Cervical Cancer Screening amongst University of Botswana Female Students. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2017 Sep 27;18(9):2445-2450. doi: 10.22034/APJCP.2017.18.9.2445. PMID: 28952274; PMCID: PMC5720649.
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Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2017 Sep 27;18(9):2445-2450. doi: 10.22034/APJCP.2017.18.9.2445.

Knowledge and Attitudes towards Cervical Cancer Screening amongst University of Botswana Female Students.

Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP

Roy Tapera, Eric Manyala, Patience Erick, Titus M Maswabi, Tshephang Tumoyagae, Baemedi Letsholo, Bontle Mbongwe

Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Botswana, Private Bag UB 712, Gaborone, Botswana. Email: [email protected]

PMID: 28952274 PMCID: PMC5720649 DOI: 10.22034/APJCP.2017.18.9.2445

Abstract

Background: Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in Botswana. More than two-thirds of cases occur in HIV-infected women, in a nation with a high HIV prevalence of 17%. Even though cancer screening is free in health facilities, cervical cancer screening is low. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitudes of University of Botswana female students on cervical cancer screening. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among University of Botswana female students to elicit information about their knowledge and attitudes on cervical cancer screening. Results: A total of 335 students completed the questionnaire and all reported that they were aware of cervical cancer. The awareness was mostly through brochures, posters and other printed material. Regarding cervical cancer risk 315 (94%) attributed cervical cancer to smoking and 301 (89.9%) to early sexual debut. The majority of students 329 (98.2 %) were aware of cervical cancer screening. Papanicolaou (Pap) smear was the most popular screening test reported by 160 (47.8%) of the respondents as compared to Human Papilloma Virus testing (HPV) reported by 106 (31.6 %) of the respondents. The overall Pap smear screening rate was 92 of 335 students (27.5%). Those who perceived themselves to be at risk of contracting cervical cancer 203 (60.6%) where 1.8 times more likely to go for Pap smear than those who perceived to be safe, (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] 1.834; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]; 1.094-3.067), (P = 0.02). Conclusions: Pap smear screening uptake is low amongst University of Botswana female students. The likely reason for this could be because students do not perceive themselves to be susceptible to cancer so the lesser the likelihood of engaging in preventive behaviours. There is urgent need for university based cancer education campaign on cervical cancer screening benefits and incorporating these campaigns into the existing university medical services to increase uptake of screening programs offered.

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Keywords: Cervical cancer; screening; Pap smear; university of Botswana; female students

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