AbstractBackground: Carcinoma of the cervix is one of the commonest cancers of women. It representsabout 12%of all cancers in females, and more than half of them die from it. There are clearevidences that cytological screening programs are effective in reducing morbidity and mortalityfrom the disease. Cancer prevention consciousness in developing countries is low and mostpatients seek consultation only at advanced stages.Objective: This survey was undertaken to elicit information on the knowledge attitude andpractice (KAP) of screening for carcinoma of the cervix (Pap smear) among reproductive health(RH) client a at three teaching hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Tikur Anbessa, St Paul’s andGhandi Memorial.Method: - Across sectional descriptive KAP study was conducted on 276 RH clients attendingemergency and regular outpatient department (OPD) antenatal, postnatal, family planning andreferral clinics at the three hospitals. A structured pre-tested questionnaire was prepared and therespondents were interviewed by the principal investigator.Results: Most respondent (81.2%) had never heard of Pap smear screening. The source ofinformation for those who had heard about this test were health institutions for 65.4% of therespondents. Women who had heard about Pap smear screening were younger than those who hadnever heard of it. Only 6.5 % of all the respondent had ever had a Pap smear test. The reasonsgiven for not having the test were: no gynecologic symptoms (41.2%); don’t know the place were itwas done (32.4%); wait till older (14.7%). And consider it was not important (11.8%). For thosewho had ever had the test, the indication for undergoing the test were doctor / nurse consultation(72.2%)and personal initiative (20.7%). Women who had a Pap smear test had higher level ofeducation than those who never had a Pap smear. Almost all the respondents were willing toundergo the screening test in the future.Conclusion: The awareness and practice of the screening procedure of cervical cancer (Pap smear)among RH clients in Addis Ababa is very low. There is a need for intensifying health educationprovision on cervical cancer screening in the city.
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Terefe et al. (2018) studied this question.