Introduction: Cervical cancer is one of the few preventable cancers. Health education messages about the cancer and its prevention should form part of the prevention strategies. Assessing knowledge about various aspects of the cancer has an important role in determining knowledge gaps that exist and therefore helps in designing health education messages about the cancer.
Sexual behaviour has been shown to play a major role in determining risk of contracting Human papillomavirus (HPV) and of developing cervical cancer.
This study was designed to assess knowledge of HPV, HPV vaccine, cervical cancer and its correlates, and to assess sexual practices among female students at the University of Witwatersrand.
Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire that was administered in female residences and analysed using the STATA 10 statistical package.
Results: A total of 860 questionnaires were distributed in 4 female residences. Amongst these, 190 questionnaires were completed. Awareness of cervical cancer was high (95%) but knowledge of its risk factors and preventive measures was low. Only 43% and 27% of the respondents had knowledge about HPV and HPV vaccine respectively. Although only 47% of the respondents were sexually active, sexual behaviour that would put these women at risk for contracting HPV infection and cervical cancer namely, high numbers of sexual partners, early age of coitarche and inconsistent condom use were present among those that were sexually active. Conclusion: Risk factors for cervical cancer and gaps in knowledge about cervical cancer, HPV and HPV vaccine exist among this population and there is need for further health education.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:wits/oai:wiredspace.wits.ac.za:10539/12530 |
| Date | 18 March 2013 |
| Creators | Kalua, Evelyn Khozga |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | application/pdf |
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