Cervical cancer knowledge and attitude among a cohort of female schoolteachers in Salem city - A cross-sectional survey

S Venkata Lakshmi; K Priya Deepa Lakshmi; C Bharath; N Saravanan; Sabiha Shaheen Shaik; Jithender Nagilla

doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_2168_21

Cervical cancer knowledge and attitude among a cohort of female schoolteachers in Salem city - A cross-sectional survey

J Family Med Prim Care. 2022 Jul;11(7):3459-3464. doi: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_2168_21. Epub 2022 Jul 22.

Authors

S Venkata Lakshmi¹, K Priya Deepa Lakshmi², C Bharath², N Saravanan², Sabiha Shaheen Shaik³, Jithender Nagilla⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Public Health Dentistry, Vydehi Institute of Dental Sciences and Research Centre, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
² Department of Public Health Dentistry, Vinayaka Mission's Sankarachariyar Dental College, Vinayaka Mission's Research Foundation (Deemed to be University), Salem, Tamil Nadu, India.
³ Department of Public Health Dentistry, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
⁴ Department of Public Health Dentistry, SVS Institute of Dental Sciences, Mahabubnagar, Telangana, India.

Abstract

The present study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitude of female schoolteachers toward cervical cancer.

Materials and method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 256 Government female schoolteachers aged 22-60 years in Salem city, Tamil Nadu. A self-administered questionnaire which assessed the levels of knowledge (6 items) and attitude (4 items) regarding cervical cancer was employed and responses were recorded on a three-point Likert scale. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 20.0.

Results: Overall adequate knowledge and good attitude regards to cervical cancer was observed among 60% and 66.8% of schoolteachers, respectively. Participants in the age range of 31-45 years (p = 0.007), primary schoolteachers (p = 0.004) and Hindus (p = 0.001) displayed significantly adequate levels of knowledge compared to their respective counterpart. Likewise, based on attitude subjects possessing postgraduation (p = 0.001) and middle schoolteachers (p = 0.009) had significant good attitude scores. Significant linear correlation was observed knowledge with class teacher (r = 0.136, P = 0.03) and religion (r = 0.208, P = 0.001) whereas attitude with qualification (r = 0.165, P = 0.008) and class teacher (r = 0.206, P = 0.001) which are positive predictors. Moreover, knowledge had a significant positive correlation with attitude (r = 1.000, P = 0.000).

Conclusion: Primary care physicians partnering network with schoolteachers having adequate knowledge and good attitude acts as a workforce to support cervical cancer screening and human papillomavirus vaccination.

Keywords: Attitude; India; cervical cancer; knowledge; schoolteachers.