Research Article

Knowledge and Awareness of Cervical Cancer among HIV-Infected Women in Ethiopia

Table 3

Awareness and knowledge of cervical cancer prevention (CCP) and treatment among HIV-infected women involved in the study, Ethiopia, August to September 2012.

VariableNumber %

Is cervical cancer an avoidable/preventive health problem?
 Yes23275.3
 No299.4
 I don’t know4715.3
Is cervical cancer a treatable health problem?
 Yes20466.2
 No3411.0
 I don’t know7022.7
Can cervical cancer be prevented through routine screening and precancerous lesion treatment?
 Yes, agree26385.4
 No, disagree4514.6
When should a woman seek care related to cervical cancer?
 Once she is sexually active, she should be scheduled for screening9631.2
 She needs to visit a health care facility only if she has a sign or symptom in her reproductive organs13343.2
 I have no idea7925.6
What treatment do you know for women diagnosed with cervical cancer?
 Surgery289.1
 Chemotherapy/radiation6119.8
 No treatment, just waiting for death196.2
 I don’t know20566.6
What treatment do you know for women diagnosed with precancerous lesion?
 Cryotherapy (treatment applied on the cervix that kills the cancer cell)92.9
 No treatment, just waiting for death134.2
 Others (counseling, vaccination, etc.)123.9
 I don’t know27489.0
What do you think is the reason that some women don’t want to get screened?
 Fear of test result13543.8
 Lack of information on cervical cancer and available preventive service 18058.4
 People are shy to talk about this type of issue9731.5
 Many feel that they are healthy (low risk perception)8627.9
 Because of rumors and myths about the test and treatment4915.9
 Afraid of exposing their reproductive organ for examination and unwilling to receive care from male providers4013.0
 Women don’t have enough money to travel to the service3812.3

Multiple answers are possible.