THE STUDY OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE ABOUT CERVICAL CANCER AND PAPSMEAR OF WOMEN THAT VISITED ZAHEDAN HEALTH CENTER CLINICS

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women after the breast cancer. The elevation of individual health and participation in screening program can lead decrease of prevalence of some cancers such as cervical and breast cancers. Through education and increase in knowledge at least one third of cancers are preventable. The purpose of this descriptive study was to determine the level of knowledge, attitude and practice and analysis of demographic factor of subjects studied. The source of this study was self-administered questionnaire which included five items of information about knowledge, attitude, practice, socio-demographic factors and gynecology complication of the subjects. The data collected by self-administered questionnaires taken from 400 women who had the set criteria among subjects visited ten clinics in Zahedan during a three-month period from the 23 September until the 22 December 2002. The analysis of the data collected in this study was made using inferal statistical tests. The results showed that most women had moderate knowledge and practice and were indifferent in attitude. Subjects who were younger than 20 years and older than 40 years had lower scores (P<0.02), were among Baloch women, of lower social classes (P<0.0001), and they had low educational level (P<0,0001). They evidently had lower knowledge, attitude and practice score and only attitude relating to job showed significantly relationship (P<0.0001). Therefore, for successful implementation of screening programs, it is essential that educational programs that aim at elevating the knowledge, attitude and practice should be carried out concurrently.