Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the role of cervical cancer awareness and the unwillingness of women to perform screening.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the city of Mahajanga, Madagascar between March to April 2015. The sample size comprised 322 women over 25 years old, randomly selected using a two-stage cluster sampling design. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. The questions were focused on the socio-demographical characteristics of the participants, their knowledge about cervical cancer risks factors, their attitudes and practices, towards screenings. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (version 24) was used for data management and descriptive analyses.

Results: The average age of women is 35.58. Two third of the participants were secondary school graduates. For 9.4% of respondents the cause of cervical cancer is attributed to human papillomavirus (HPV), 34.1% reported the younger age of the first sexual intercourse, 26.9% pointed out the multiple sex partners and 26.6% the sexual transmitted disease. The goal of the screening as quoted by the surveyed subjects was to timely detect precancerous lesions for 6.2% of case, to be aware of one’s health condition for 5.3% of case, to receive treatment for 5% of case and no idea for 17.7% of case. Malagasy women delayed seeking medical cares and showed themselves with a low level of awareness on health issues pertaining to cervical cancer.

Conclusion: the results showed that the women’s knowledge about cervical cancer and screening tests necessity rate are significantly lower in this study. Health education is suggested, to raise the women’s level of awareness, to change beliefs in health habit, to improve their behavior towards the screening program as to incite them to perform Pap test.

Keywords: Awareness; Behavior; Practices; Women; Mahajanga; Cervical cancer; Detection