Abstract
Aim
This study aimed to evaluate knowledge, health belief, and preventive behavior regarding cervical cancer among Turkish Women.
Subjects and methods
This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted from May to June 2019 in the province of Aydın, Turkey, with a total of 131 women. The data were collected using questionnaires filled out by the participants and the Cancer Information Overload Scale and The Turkish version of the Cervical Cancer and HPV Awareness Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using t test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation analysis performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20.
Results
It is seen from the results of the study that married women, women who have been sexually active before, and women who had at least one pregnancy had a higher Cancer Information Overload Scale score (p < 0.05). This study showed that 56.8% of participants had not undergone a Pap smear test. Women with active smoking were less likely than those without active smoking to have a perceived seriousness score (15.82 ± 4.25 vs 18.19 ± 4.56). Women who had a Pap smear test were more likely than those who had not had a Pap smear test to have a perceived seriousness score (19.78 ± 3.61 vs 17.30 ± 4.94). (p < 0.05).
Conclusion
There is a need for more participation in the Pap smear test. This study showed a high level of perceived seriousness increased Pap smear test screening. Aside from studies evaluating the knowledge and practice level of the population in cervical cancer, interventional studies promoting the development of preventive behaviors would contribute significantly to the literature.
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The author would like to thank all the women for their voluntary participation and for their help with the data collection in the study.
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Approval was obtained from the ethics committee of Aydın Adnan Menderes University Faculty of Nursing. The procedures used in this study adhere to the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki.
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Permissions were obtained from women and informed consent was obtained from participants before the survey.
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Kırag, N. Knowledge, health beliefs, and preventive behavior regarding cervical cancer among Turkish women: a cross sectional study. J Public Health (Berl.) 29, 239–244 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-020-01382-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-020-01382-0