TY - JOUR
T1 - Awareness and Beliefs About Cervical Cancer, the HPV Vaccine, and Cervical Cancer Screening Among Ghanaian Women with Diverse Education Levels
AU - Williams, Michelle S.
AU - Kenu, Ernest
AU - Adanu, Augustine
AU - Yalley, Ruth Angela
AU - Lawoe, Nicholas Kwaku
AU - Dotse, Akpanga Seyram
AU - Adu, Rita Fosuah
AU - Fontaine, Kevin
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018, American Association for Cancer Education.
PY - 2019/10/1
Y1 - 2019/10/1
N2 - Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women in Ghana. Cost-effective tools for the primary and secondary prevention of cervical cancer, such as the Pap test, the HPV DNA test, and the HPV vaccine, are available in hospitals and clinics throughout Ghana. However, participation in cervical cancer prevention behaviors is low among Ghanaian women. Our objective was to determine if there were significant differences in cervical cancer awareness and stigmatizing beliefs about women with cervical cancer between Ghanaian women of different education levels. We surveyed 288 Ghanaian women who were at least 18 years old. Data on the participants’ demographic characteristics, awareness of cervical cancer, cervical cancer screening, and the HPV vaccine, beliefs about cervical cancer screening, and stigmatizing beliefs about women with cervical cancer was collected. Chi-square tests for independence and Fisher’s exact test of independence were preformed to determine if education level was associated with those factors. Participation in cervical cancer screening and uptake of the HPV vaccine was significantly lower among women with less than a senior high school education. Awareness about cervical cancer, cervical cancer screening, and the HPV vaccine was lower among women with less education. Women with lower levels of education were more likely to agree with the negative statements about cervical cancer screening and stigmatizing beliefs about women with cervical cancer. Cervical cancer education interventions that are tailored for Ghanaian women with different educational levels are needed to increase awareness of and participation in cervical cancer prevention strategies.
AB - Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women in Ghana. Cost-effective tools for the primary and secondary prevention of cervical cancer, such as the Pap test, the HPV DNA test, and the HPV vaccine, are available in hospitals and clinics throughout Ghana. However, participation in cervical cancer prevention behaviors is low among Ghanaian women. Our objective was to determine if there were significant differences in cervical cancer awareness and stigmatizing beliefs about women with cervical cancer between Ghanaian women of different education levels. We surveyed 288 Ghanaian women who were at least 18 years old. Data on the participants’ demographic characteristics, awareness of cervical cancer, cervical cancer screening, and the HPV vaccine, beliefs about cervical cancer screening, and stigmatizing beliefs about women with cervical cancer was collected. Chi-square tests for independence and Fisher’s exact test of independence were preformed to determine if education level was associated with those factors. Participation in cervical cancer screening and uptake of the HPV vaccine was significantly lower among women with less than a senior high school education. Awareness about cervical cancer, cervical cancer screening, and the HPV vaccine was lower among women with less education. Women with lower levels of education were more likely to agree with the negative statements about cervical cancer screening and stigmatizing beliefs about women with cervical cancer. Cervical cancer education interventions that are tailored for Ghanaian women with different educational levels are needed to increase awareness of and participation in cervical cancer prevention strategies.
KW - Cervical cancer prevention
KW - Ghana
KW - Women’s Health
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85049571989&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s13187-018-1392-y
DO - 10.1007/s13187-018-1392-y
M3 - Article
C2 - 29974412
AN - SCOPUS:85049571989
SN - 0885-8195
VL - 34
SP - 897
EP - 903
JO - Journal of Cancer Education
JF - Journal of Cancer Education
IS - 5
ER -