Survey of knowledge of cervical cancer in women of reproductive age covered by the Ardabil health- centers

Knowledge of cervical cancer and how to prevent it can be effective to reducing disease and increasing survival rate, early detection and its mortality. This study was performed to survey of knowledge of cervical cancer in women in reproductive age covered by the Ardabil health- centers.
This cross sectional study was done on 395 women of reproductive age referred to the Ardabil health centers in 2011. They were selected by cluster sampling then random stratified. Data collection tool was a research made questionnaire in four sections which included: Demographic characteristics, knowledge of the factors responsible for the disease, awareness of the symptoms of cervical cancer, and women's knowledge about Pap smears. The validity of tool was certified using content validity and its reliability with test-retest (r=86%) was confirmed. Data were analyzed using descriptive and chi- square tests.
Overall awareness of cervical cancer in 51.6% of women was poor. The level of knowledge in case of Pap smear test was 59.3%, knowledge of risk factors was 55.1% and the knowledge of disease symptoms in 64% of people was poor.
Most women about cervical cancer and importance of using screening methods had little knowledge. It is essential to use the new method of education through the mass media to change attitudes and increase the performance of individuals and awareness and to help them diagnose and treat this disease in early harvesting steps.