Objective To investigate the knowledge and behavior concerning early screening for cervical cancer among female residents in Shanghai.
Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 7 909 female residents (≥ 15 years old) in August-September 2010 in Shanghai to collect information about the awareness of and participation in the early detection of cervical cancer.
Results The awareness rates of abnormal signs of cervical cancer (7 908 female residents) and cervical smear test (7 907 female residents) were 54.29% and 34.88% respectively, and the urban residents (59.49% and 39.41%), 18-44 age group (62.04% and 40.30%), and subjects having college and above education (70.29% and 49.33%) reported higher rates. The percentage of ever receiving cervical smear tests was 32.37% of the 6 973 residents aged above 18 years, and varied among age groups and education levels (P<0.001), with the lowest percentage in the 18-44 age group (26.96%) and the illiterate group (20.69%). Among the 2 223 female residents who had ever got cervical smear tests, the median time interval from last test to the day of survey was 2.00 years.
Conclusion The female residents in Shanghai generally have a high awareness but a low receiving rate of early detection of cervical cancer. The findings indicate health education and behavior intervention on cervical cancer prevention and control should be a focus in this population to encourage their participation and initiative.
DownLoad: