1-uqu-presentation

1. Assessment of knowledge, awareness and
attitude towards Cervical Cancer and its
screening among women in Makkah –KSA

2. AUTHORS
Dr. Hani A. Aziz Jokhdar
Dr. Mohammed A. Garout
Dr. Enas H. AlFalogy
Dr Rahma A. ALZahrany
6th year medical students - UQU
•Weaam S. Al-Harbi
•Wafaa I. Bahwaini
•Hibah S. Alharbi

3. Introduction
Cervical cancer is considered the 4th most common cancer of women
worldwide and the 10th among Saudi women (international agency for
research on cancer, 2013 ).
The cervical cancer incidence in Saudi Arabia is one of the lowest
in the world, accounting for 2.3 % of diagnosed cases of cancer in
female.(Tumor Registry, annual report. Nov. 2012 ).
Every year 241 women in Saudi Arabia are diagnosed with cervical
cancer and 84 die from the disease (ICO Information Centre on HPV
and Cancer, Fact Sheet 2014).

4.  Screening of cervical precancerous lesion by Papanicolaou test (Pap test)
results in a significant reduction of cervical cancer mortality and morbidity.
 Unfortunately there is lack of well organized, systematic , structured
screening program in KSA fore which most cases of cervical cancer presented to
health care services late in advanced stage of disease.
The only organized screening program in Saudi Arabia is Jeddah Cervical
Screening Program which was established 2 years ago .This program covers all
Jeddah female community regardless of nationality and eligibility for treatment
.
Unfortunately in other parts of the country there are sporadic
Screening tests (Pap test) directed mainly for patients attending
outpatient department for gynecological problems.
Introduction

5. UQU- UMC Program
• UQU- medical center established a new unit for
cervical cancer screening test .
• This unit is branch of Jeddah Cervical Screening
Program and follows the same protocol .
• The unit will be the cornerstone for future Makkah
Cervical Screening Program .

6. UQU-MC Cervical Screening Lab.

7. Objectives of the study
 To assess the level of knowledge regarding symptoms,
risk factors and prevention(screening and vaccination)
of cervical carcinoma among Makkah women
population .
 2)To find out the behavior (attitude) of respondents
regarding prevention and screening of cervical cancer.
 To assess and to plan for public education program
accordingly.

8. Study design
A questionnaire based cross-sectional study
Study population
Women attending health care services in Makkah
Sampling
A sample of 210 women was selected from female
attending outpatient clinics in 3 hospitals in Makah.
Data management
Data was analyzed using SPSS Version 20

9. Qualifying Criteria
INCLUSION
• Female (18-65
years)
• Married, widow or
divorced
• Permanently living
in Makkah.
EXCLUSION
• Never been
married women
• Visitors
• Under 18 years or
above 65 years .
• Women with
cervical cancer .

10. Study setting
• A list of health care facilities (centers and hospitals)
was prepared.
• Three facilities were randomly selected ( KAAH
(Alzaher ), MCH and SFH ).
• Female Patients were selected from outpatient clinics
above.

11. Study tool and knowledge score
Collected using a semi-structured interview questionnaire
knowledge score
The cut of knowledge was taken as 50 % :
Knowing symptoms of cervical cancer.
Knowing risk factors.
Awareness of cervical cancer screening.
Knowing about HPV vaccine.
Knowing about preventing measures.

12. Ethical Consideration
•The procedures of this study were approved by the
Faculty of Medicine [Medical Ethics Board], UQU.
•A simple and clear explanation of the Research Aims
and Procedures was provided to the study population.
•Verbal consent was obtained from the study population
and heath facilities.

13. Results

14. 87.1
12.9
poor
good
Level of knowledge about cervical
Cancer
•minority of the women have good knowledge about cervical
cancer (12.9% [27/210])

15. Source of knowledge about screening
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
14.0
3.3
11.9
12.9
6.2
8.6
7.1percent
The knowledge mainly from the internet and mass
media not from doctors

16. Awareness about cervical cancer
screening
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
aware Not aware
percent
•Only (13.8% [29/210]) are aware about screening.

17. Prevalence of Pap smear
Only 21.4% women had undergone screening using Pap smear
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
performed Pap test did not perform Pap
test
21.4
78.6
Percent

18. Attitude towards screening
80%
20%
Attitude towardsscreening
positive
negative
80% have positive attitude towards screening

19. Taking vaccination to prevent cancer cervix
1.9
98.1vaccinated
not vaccinated
Only 1.9 % took the vaccine,

20. %۹۰
%۱۰
Postive Negtive
90% have positive attitude towards vaccination
Attitude towards vaccination

21. • A small minority of the study group has undergone
screening test and only 1.9 % has been vaccinated.
• Although the majority of women have poor knowledge,
however, they have positive attitude towards screening and
vaccination.
Conclusion

22. • Massive awareness programs have to be implemented
through various relevant groups to improve public
awareness.
• Utilization of media such as television, newspaper and radio
in addition to social media (Twitter, facebook and WhatsApp
) will have great impact in the improvement of public
knowledge about cervical cancer screening.
Recommendations

23. THANK YOU