Abstract: Introduction: Cervical Cancer is the preventable cancer among all female genital tract cancers when detected in the premalignant stage. The increasing incidence could be attributed to lack of awareness regarding screening and paucity of organised screening facilities in the country. Early detection can be done by Pap smear (PS), which is an inexpensive procedure to look for cervical cytological changes.
Aims & Objectives: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) about Pap smear, to identify the barriers that impeded women in practicing it, to find out the association between socio-demographic characteristics and their KAP of Pap smear.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 women attending the gynaecology OPD in AJIMS, Mangalore from May 2022 to August 2022.Face to face interview was conducted to assess their knowledge, attitude and Practice using a structured questionnaire.
Results: Among all women who were interviewed, about 44% heard about Pap smear and 58% heard about cervical cancer. Only 8% of women had good knowledge about Pap smear, 33% of them had a positive attitude, and 13% of them practiced it. The main reason for having the Pap smear was the health provider’s advice.
Conclusion: The majority of women had low knowledge of Pap smear, and a negative attitude. The study recommends strengthening of health education by health care providers and effective media to improve the level of awareness.
Indexed in Index Copernicus
