Awareness towards cervical cancer in undergraduate students

Abstract

Background: Cervical cancer sits at the top two cancer cases with mortality 10.3% in Indonesia. According to cancer research UK, cervical cancer commonly occur at ages above 50 years old, but people between 25 29 years old is at the most risk of developing it. High mortality of cervical cancer is caused by the lack of knowledge regarding sign and symptoms of cervical cancer in the society that leads to treatment delays. The aim of this study to evaluate undergraduate students awareness toward cervical cancer. Method(s): We conducted a cross-sectional study in Tangerang on early November 2017. Data were collected by filling questionnaire which assessed using cervical cancer awarness mansurement. To measure the knowledge the sign and symptoms we asked 12 questions, the total score is used to classify the range of knowledge with good knowledge (2333), enough (1222), and poor (011). Data were analyzed using SPSS 23 software with fisher exact test. Result(s): This study enrolled undergraduate students with median age 18 (1735) years old, which female 109 (72.2%), out of which 66.9% were medical students. There were 74 (49%) first year, 64 (42.4%) second year, 9 (6%) third year, and 4 (2.6%) fourth year. Out of the medical students, 69.8% of them have good knowledge, and 30.7% has enough knowledge of the sign and symptoms of cervical cancer. Knowledge regarding sign and symptoms in non medical student which has good knowledge 28%, enough 66%, and poor 6% with p value of 0.0001. With 18 (17.8%) of medical students and 3 (6%) non-medical students who are aware of screening method for cervical cancer. Conclusion(s): Results showed that medical students has better knowledge that non-medical students regarding sign and symptoms of cervical cancer. Both medical and nonmedical student lack awareness and knowledge regarding screening for cervical cancer. This mean that cervical cancer program in Tangerang are still lacking.