Cervical cancer perceived risks and associated factors among women in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study
Abstract
Examining the risk perception of one of the most life-threatening cancers among women, such as cervical cancer, will guide the development of targeted advocacy and educational programs to reduce the burden of the disease. The current study investigated cervical cancer perceived risks and associated factors among Saudi women. A cross-sectional study was conducted through a social media-based survey, which conveniently targeted 1085 Saudi women in Najran city. The survey questionnaire consisted of four parts: basic sociodemographic data, cervical cancer knowledge quiz, attitude scale, and risk perception Scale. The present study confirmed that 57.4% of the study participants had high-risk perception regarding cervical cancer. Among the study participants, 42.6% had a low perception of the risk of cervical cancer, 57.3% had unsatisfactory knowledge, while 59.4% had a positive attitude (59.4%) towards cervical cancer prevention and its screening. The binary logistic regression proved that the positive significant factors associated with risk perception were higher education [AOR=3.105 (1.300 - 7.418), p=0.011], increasing age [AOR=1.191 (1.043-1.359), p=0.005], longer duration of marriage [AOR=3.123 (1.112 - 8.767), p=0.031], having family history of cancer/cervical cancer [AOR=4.498 (1.119 - 18.085), p=0.034], satisfactory knowledge [AOR=2.304 (1.289 - 4.116), p=0.005], and positive attitude [AOR=3.248 (2.532 - 4.166), p=0.000]. We conclude that more than half of the women in Najran city had high cervical cancer-related risk perception while more than two-fifths perceived low risk with unsatisfactory knowledge and a positive attitude. These results highlight the pressing need to develop cervical cancer health education programs to foster risk perception as a driving strategy for the prevention of cervical cancer in Saudi Arabian women. (Afr J Reprod Health 2022; 26[7s]:13-22).
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Arbyn M, Weiderpass E, Bruni L, De Sanjose S. Saraiya M, Ferlay J and Bray F. Estimates of incidence and mortality of cervical cancer in 2018: a worldwide analysis. Lancet Glob Health. 2020; 8:e191–e203. doi:10.1016/S2214-109X(19)30482- 6
The Saudi Ministry of Health. Clinical Practice Guideline on the Screening and Treatment of Precancerous Lesions for Cervical Cancer Prevention. The Saudi Center for Evidence Based Health Care [internet] 2014. Accessed on [1 November 2021]. Available at: https://www.moh.gov.sa/en/ Ministry/ Structure/Programs/TCP/Documents/7.pdf
ICO/IARC Information Centre on HPV and Cancer, Saudi Arabia, Human Papillomavirus and Related Cancers, Fact Sheet [internet] 2021. Accessed on [5 March 2022] Available at: https://hpvcentre.net/statistics/reports/SAU.pdf
World Health Organization. Human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer. 2022. [Internet] Accessed on [29 February 2022]. Available at: http:// www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/human-papillomavirus-(hpv)-and-cervical-cancer
Yuan Y, Cai X, Shen F and Ma F. HPV Post-Infection Microenvironment and Cervical Cancer. Cancer Lett. 2021; 497:243–54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.canlet.2020.10.034. PMID: 33122098
Ghebre, RG, Grover S, Xu MJ, Chuang LT and Simonds H. Cervical cancer control in HIV-infected women: Past, present, and future. Gynecol Oncol Rep. 2017; 21:101–8. doi: 10.1016/j.gore.2017.07.009. PMID: 28819634. PMCID: PMC5548335
Momenimovahed Z and Salehiniya H. Incidence, Mortality, and Risk Factors of Cervical Cancer in the world. Biomed Res Ther 2017; 4(12): 1795-1811. DOI : 10.15419/bmrat.v4i12.386
Akkour K, Alghuson L, Benabdelkamel H, Alhalal H, Alayed N, AlQarni A and Arafah M. Cervical Cancer, and Human Papillomavirus Awareness among Women in Saudi Arabia. Medicina 2021; 57:1373. https://doi.org/ 10.3390/medicina57121373.
Al-Mandeel HM, Sagr E, Sait K, Latifah HM, Al-Obaid A and Al-Badawi IA. Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Screening and Treatment of Precancerous Lesions for Cervical Cancer Prevention in Saudi Arabia. Ann Saudi Med 2016; 36(5): 313-320. https://doi.org/10.5144/0256-4947.2016.313
Alhamlan FS, Khayat HH, Ramisetty-Mikler S, Al-Muammar TA, Tulbah AM and Al-Badawi IA. Sociodemographic characteristics and sexual behavior as risk factors for human papillomavirus infection in Saudi Arabia. Int J Infect Dis. 2016; 46:94–9. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2016.04.004. PMID: 27062984
Al-Qasem MH, Badar O and Abokathiyah AM. Awareness, Knowledge, and Practice of Adult Saudi Females about Cervical Cancer Screening, in Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia. World Family Medicine. 2020; 18(10): 13-19 DOI: 10.5742/MEWFM.2020.93885.
Almansour N, Alshamri, AM, Alrashidi, SN, Alhobera AH and Abdalla RA. Research Article Knowledge and Attitude of Cervical Cancer Screening among Women in Hail. Int. J. Curr. Res. 2018, 10, 69149–69153.
Kempe A, O’Leary ST, Markowitz LE, Crane LA, Hurley LP, Brtnikova M, Beaty BL, Meites E, Stokley S and LindleyMC. HPV vaccine delivery practices by primary care physicians. Pediatrics. 2019; 144:e20191475. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2019-1475, PMID: 31527175.
Adedimeji A, Ajeh R, Pierz A, Nkeng R, Ndenkeh JJ, Fuhngwa N, Nsame D, Nji M, Dzudie A, Anastos KM and Castle PE. Challenges and opportunities associated with cervical cancer screening programs in a low income, high HIV prevalence context. BMC Women’s Health. 2021; 21(74):1–14. DOI: 10.1186/s12905-021-01211-w. PMCID: PMC7890622 PMID: 33602194
Ferrer R and Klein WM. Risk perceptions and health behavior. Curr Opin Psychol. 2015; 5: 85-9. doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2015.03.012.
Harper DM, Tariq M, Alhawli A, Syed N, Patel M and Resnicow K. Cancer risk perception and physician communication behaviors on cervical cancer and colorectal cancer screening. eLife 2021; 10:1-14. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.70003
Weinstein ND and Klein WM. Resistance of personal risk perceptions to debiasing interventions. Health Psychol 1995; 14:132. DOI: 10.1037//0278-6133.14.2.132. PMID: 7789348
Pender NJ. Health promotion and illness prevention. Annual review of nursing research. 1984 Sep 1; 2(1):83-105. DOI: 10.1891/0739-6686.2.1.83
Kelly KM, Ferketich AK, Ruffin MT, Tatum C and Paskett ED. Perceived Risk of Cervical Cancer in Appalachian Women. Am J Health Behav., 2012; 36(6): 849–859. doi:10.5993/AJHB.36.6.11. PMID: 23026042. PMCID: PMC3746826
Rogers RW. Cognitive and psychosocial processes in fear appeals and attitude change: a revised theory of protection motivation. In: Cacioppo BL, Petty LL, Shapiro S, editors. Social psychophysiology: a sourcebook. New York (NY): Guilford Press; 1983. p. 153-76.
Weinstein ND. Why it won't happen to me: perceptions of risk factors and susceptibility. Health Psychol 1984; 3:431-57. DOI: 10.1037//0278-6133.3.5.431. PMID: 6536498
Vernon SW. Risk perception and risk communication for cancer screening behaviors: A review. J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr 1999; (25):101-19. DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.jncimonographs.a024184. PMID: 10854465
Zhao X and Nan X. The influence of absolute and comparative risk perceptions on cervical Cancer screening and the mediating role of Cancer worry. Journal of Health Communication.2016; 21:100–108.
Aldohaian AI, Alshammari SA and Arafah DM. Using the health belief model to assess beliefs and behaviors regarding cervical cancer screening among Saudi women: a cross-sectional observational study, Women's Health .2019; 19(6):1-12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-018-0701-2. https://doi.org/ 10.1080/10810730.2015.1033114, PMID: 26312444
General Authority for statistics. Saudi Demography Survey 2016. Available at: https://www.stats.gov.sa/sites/default/files/en-demographic-research-2016_2.pdf. [Accessed on 15-3-2021].
Moreira CB, Dahinten VS, Howard AF and Fernandes, A. The Revised Champion's Health Belief Model Scale: Predictive Validity among Brazilian Women. SAGE open nursing. 2020;6, 2377960820940551. https://doi.org/10.1177/2377960820940551. PMCID: PMC7774489
Guvenc G, Akyuz A and Açikel CH. Health Belief Model Scale for Cervical Cancer and Pap Smear Test: psychometric testing. Journal of Advanced Nursing 2011; 67(2): 428-37. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2010.05450.
Wakwoya EB, Gemechu KS and Dasa TT. Knowledge of Cervical Cancer and Associated Factors Among Women Attending Public Health Facilities in Eastern Ethiopia. Cancer Manag Res. 2020 14;12:10103-10111. DOI: 10.2147/CMAR.S262314. PMID: 33116866; PMCID: PMC7569063.
Mwaka AD, Orach CG, Were EM, Lyratzopoulos G, Wabinga H and Roland M. Awareness of cervical cancer risk factors and symptoms: cross-sectional community survey in post-conflict northern Uganda. Health Expect. 2016;19(4):854-67. DOI: 10.1111/hex.12382. PMID: 26205470; PMCID: PMC4957614.
Getaneh A, Tegene B and Belachew T. Knowledge, attitude, and practices on cervical cancer screening among undergraduate female students in University of Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia: an institution based cross sectional study. BMC Public Health. 2021; 23; 21(1):775. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10853-2 PMID: 33888094; PMCID: PMC8063279.
Jradi H and Bawazir A. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices among Saudi women regarding cervical cancer, human papillomavirus (HPV) and corresponding vaccine. Vaccine 2019; 37(3): 530-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2018.11.065.
Chisale Mabotja M, Levin J and Kawonga M. Beliefs and perceptions regarding cervical cancer and screening associated with Pap smear uptake in Johannesburg: A cross-sectional study. PLoS ONE 2021; 16(2): e0246574. https://doi.org/ 10.1371/journal.pone.0246574
Russell V, Ogilvie G, Beksinska M, Nyrenda M, Mitchell-Foster S, Lavoie J, Harder H, Wood B, Smith P, Dietrich J, Smit J, Brockman M, Gray G and Kaida A, on behalf of the AYAZAZI Research Team. Human papillomavirus and cervical cancer risk perception and vaccine acceptability among adolescent girls and young women in Durban, South Africa. South African Medical Journal 2020; 110(9): 887-93. doi:10.7196/SAMJ.2020.v110i9.14367
Taghizadeh Asl R, Van Osch L, De Vries N, Zendehdel K, Shams M, Zarei F and De Vries H. The role of knowledge, risk perceptions, and cues to action among Iranian women concerning cervical cancer and screening: a qualitative exploration. BMC Public Health 2020; 20, 1688 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09701-6
Salem M, Amin T, Alhulaybi A, Sami Althafar A and Abdelhai R. Perceived Risk of Cervical Cancer and Barriers to Screening among Secondary School Female Teachers in Al Hassa, Saudi Arabia. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 2017; 18(4): 969-979. doi: 10.22034/APJCP.2017.18.4.969
Mukama T, Ndejjo R, Musabyimana A, Halage A and Musoke D. Women’s knowledge and attitudes towards cervical cancer prevention: a cross sectional study in Eastern Uganda. BMC Women's Health 2017; 17, 9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-017-0365-3
Opoku CA, Browne EN, Spangenberg K, Moyer C, Kolbilla D and Gold KJ. Perception and risk factors for cervical cancer among women in northern Ghana. Ghana Med J. 2016;50(2):84-9. doi:10.4314/gmj.v50i2.6
Annan FM, Oppong Asante K and Kugbey N. Perceived seriousness mediates the influence of cervical cancer knowledge on screening practices among female university students in Ghana. BMC Women's Health 2019; 19, 140. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-019-0842-y
Zahid HM, Qarah AB, Alharbi AM, Alomar AE and Almubarak SA. Awareness and Practices Related to Cervical Cancer among Females in Saudi Arabia. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 1455. https://doi.org/10.3390/ ijerph19031455
Taneja N, Chawla B, Awasthi AA, Shrivastav KD, Jaggi VK and Janardhanan R. Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice on Cervical Cancer and Screening Among Women in India: A Review. Cancer Control. 2021. doi:10.1177/10732748211010799
AlHarfi MMA, Aljadidi JKA, Ali SI and Bahrani SJA. Awareness level of women living in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia about the relationship between human papillomavirus and cervical cancer. IJMDC 2019; 3(7): 592-6. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1548091380
Alfalogy E, Alzahrany R, Elzahrany H, Salman W, Bahwaini W and ALtayari H. Assessment of Knowledge, Awareness and Attitude About Cervical Cancer and Its Screening Among Women in Makkah – Saudi Arabia., Indo Am. J. P. Sci, 2020; 07(02). https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3633899
Alnafisah RA, Alsuhaibani R, Alharbi MA, Alsohaibani AA and Ismail AA. Saudi Women's Knowledge and Attitude toward Cervical Cancer Screening, Treatment, and Prevention: A Cross-Sectional Study in Qassim Region (2018-2019). Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention APJCP 2019; 20(10), 2965-9. https://doi.org/10.31557/APJCP.2019.20.10.2965
Yanikkerem E, Selçuk AK and Esmeray N. Women's Attitude and Beliefs about Cervical Cancer and Pap Smear Test by using the Health Belief Model. Int J Cancer Clin Res 2019; 5:102. doi.org/10.23937/2378-3419/1410102.
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.