Awareness of Cervical Cancer Screening Among Women Attending Gynecology Clinics

Background: Cervical cancer is preventable and can be detected early with screening, which can help to lower the morbidity and mortality from the disease. The purpose of this study was to determine the awareness of women's screening for cervical cancer in gynecology clinics. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study included 175 women attending gynecology clinics. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data, which included information on cervical cancer prevention, Pap smear testing, HPV infection testing, screening without symptoms, previous gynecological consultation, and sources of information about screening. A score of awareness was computed, and participants were divided into good, moderate, or poor awareness. Relationships with sociodemographic and health-care related factors were explored. Results: In general, 103(58.9%) of women were aware, and 72(41.1%) were not aware. Of the 121 respondents (69.1%) who recognized Pap smear as a screening test, 68 (38.9%) knew that HPV testing could be used for screening, and 83 (47.4%) knew that screening might be recommended when there are no symptoms. There was a significant increase in awareness, from 32.3% for women with primary education or less to 83.3% for women with graduate education (p<0.001). Conclusion: Awareness was moderate, with key gaps in knowledge around HPV-based screening and symptom-independent screening. Clinic-based education and subsequent intervention studies should reinforce informed participation in screening, particularly among women who have not been extensively educated or provided with information.