Knowledge and attitudes relating to cervical and breast cancer among women in Maseru, Lesotho
Background: Cancer has remained one of the leading causes of death worldwide. In Lesotho, breast and cervical cancers contribute about 43% of all the cancer cases annually. Aim: This study is aimed at comparing knowledge, attitudes, and practices between breast and cervical cancers among females in...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2022-12-01
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| Series: | African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/3459 |
| _version_ | 1797979347214139392 |
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| author | Maseabata M. Ramathebane Mopa A. Sooro Richard M. Kabuya Abdul-Rauf Sayed |
| author_facet | Maseabata M. Ramathebane Mopa A. Sooro Richard M. Kabuya Abdul-Rauf Sayed |
| author_sort | Maseabata M. Ramathebane |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Cancer has remained one of the leading causes of death worldwide. In Lesotho, breast and cervical cancers contribute about 43% of all the cancer cases annually.
Aim: This study is aimed at comparing knowledge, attitudes, and practices between breast and cervical cancers among females in Maseru.
Settings: This study consists of women residing in five study sites which have clinics that offer cervical and breast cancer-screening services.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in June 2021 in Maseru, the Capital city of Lesotho. The participants were interviewed using a pre-tested questionnaire, through which their knowledge, practices about, and attitudes towards breast and cervical cancers were assessed.
Results: A total of 228 women aged 15–75 years participated in the study and the majority were aged 30 years and above. Of the women interviewed for cervical cancer, 89.5% had heard of it, 11.8% had heard of its screening, and 7.4% had at least one examination. Similarly, for breast cancer, 77.6% of women who had heard of it, 72.9% had heard of screening, and 40.1% of women did at least one examination.
Conclusion: The majority of women were more knowledgeable about cervical cancer than breast cancer. However, more women had heard about breast cancer screening than cervical cancer screening. Therefore, there is a need for awareness campaigns related to cervical cancers’ screening.
Contribution: There is an urgent need to intensify awareness about cervical and breast cancer screening and availability of services at the nearby clinics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T05:38:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-eaf753964a154e42a13250f5836378a1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2071-2928 2071-2936 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T05:38:36Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-eaf753964a154e42a13250f5836378a12022-12-22T10:22:22ZengAOSISAfrican Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine2071-29282071-29362022-12-01141e1e810.4102/phcfm.v14i1.3459985Knowledge and attitudes relating to cervical and breast cancer among women in Maseru, LesothoMaseabata M. Ramathebane0Mopa A. Sooro1Richard M. Kabuya2Abdul-Rauf Sayed3Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, National University of Lesotho, MaseruDepartment of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, National University of Lesotho, MaseruSenkatana Oncology Clinic, MaseruBristol Meyer Squibb Foundation, Cape TownBackground: Cancer has remained one of the leading causes of death worldwide. In Lesotho, breast and cervical cancers contribute about 43% of all the cancer cases annually. Aim: This study is aimed at comparing knowledge, attitudes, and practices between breast and cervical cancers among females in Maseru. Settings: This study consists of women residing in five study sites which have clinics that offer cervical and breast cancer-screening services. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in June 2021 in Maseru, the Capital city of Lesotho. The participants were interviewed using a pre-tested questionnaire, through which their knowledge, practices about, and attitudes towards breast and cervical cancers were assessed. Results: A total of 228 women aged 15–75 years participated in the study and the majority were aged 30 years and above. Of the women interviewed for cervical cancer, 89.5% had heard of it, 11.8% had heard of its screening, and 7.4% had at least one examination. Similarly, for breast cancer, 77.6% of women who had heard of it, 72.9% had heard of screening, and 40.1% of women did at least one examination. Conclusion: The majority of women were more knowledgeable about cervical cancer than breast cancer. However, more women had heard about breast cancer screening than cervical cancer screening. Therefore, there is a need for awareness campaigns related to cervical cancers’ screening. Contribution: There is an urgent need to intensify awareness about cervical and breast cancer screening and availability of services at the nearby clinics.https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/3459cross-sectionalbreast cancercervical cancerknowledgeattitudescancer screeninglesotho. |
| spellingShingle | Maseabata M. Ramathebane Mopa A. Sooro Richard M. Kabuya Abdul-Rauf Sayed Knowledge and attitudes relating to cervical and breast cancer among women in Maseru, Lesotho African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine cross-sectional breast cancer cervical cancer knowledge attitudes cancer screening lesotho. |
| title | Knowledge and attitudes relating to cervical and breast cancer among women in Maseru, Lesotho |
| title_full | Knowledge and attitudes relating to cervical and breast cancer among women in Maseru, Lesotho |
| title_fullStr | Knowledge and attitudes relating to cervical and breast cancer among women in Maseru, Lesotho |
| title_full_unstemmed | Knowledge and attitudes relating to cervical and breast cancer among women in Maseru, Lesotho |
| title_short | Knowledge and attitudes relating to cervical and breast cancer among women in Maseru, Lesotho |
| title_sort | knowledge and attitudes relating to cervical and breast cancer among women in maseru lesotho |
| topic | cross-sectional breast cancer cervical cancer knowledge attitudes cancer screening lesotho. |
| url | https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/3459 |
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