Risk awareness on uterine cancer among Australian women

The sexual and reproductive health knowledge of women in Australia: A scoping review

ISSUE ADDRESSED

Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) knowledge influences health literacy and promotes positive health behaviours. This scoping review explores the SRH knowledge of women in Australia and reports on knowledge assessment, ways of learning, enablers and barriers, and interventions to improve knowledge.

METHODS

Seven databases were searched for eligible articles published in English between 2012 and 2022.

RESULTS

Eighty-five sources were included for analysis. Data were mapped by knowledge topic and population group and charted against four review objectives. Assessment of knowledge was the primary focus in 59% of sources. Two sources used a validated knowledge assessment tool. Knowledge was assessed using self-assessment, a measurement of correctness, or both. Women learnt about SRH through a range of sources, including healthcare providers, peers, family, internet, and school. Enablers and barriers spanned information content, delivery, timing, accessibility, interactions with those providing information, cultural and gendered norms, pre-migration experiences, and functional health literacy. Nine sources reported on interventions to facilitate SRH knowledge.

CONCLUSIONS

This review identified topics, population groups, and gaps in assessment of SRH knowledge of women in Australia. Overall, the measurement of women's SRH knowledge is largely conducted using unvalidated tools focusing on specific topics. SO WHAT?: It is recommended a validated tool be developed to comprehensively assess the SRH knowledge of women in Australia allowing for intersectional population analysis and exploration of knowledge conceptualisation. This would enable assessment of interventions aiming to improve SRH knowledge thereby facilitating improved health literacy and outcomes.

Awareness of gynaecological cancer and factors affecting in women: a cross-sectional study

The aim of this study was to determine women's awareness of gynaecological cancer and the factors affecting this. The analytical, cross-sectional study was carried out with 422 women attending a gynaecology outpatient clinic between July 15 2019 and January 15 2019. Data were collected using a General Characteristics Form and the Gynecological Cancers Awareness Scale (GCAS). Descriptive statistics, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, the Mann-Whitney U-test, the Kruskal-Wallis test and Spearman's correlation analysis were used for data analysis. The mean score for the GCAS was 149.1 ± 0.85. The mean scores of the participants found for its subscales of early diagnosis and information, prevention, risk and routine checks, and serious illness were 15.40 ± 0.16, 21.44 ± 0.18, 26.61 ± 0.27 and 85.71 ± 0.52, respectively. The mean scores for the scale and its subscales had a correlation with age and education. The findings showed that the women had greater than moderate awareness about gynaecological cancers. Nurses and midwives should take account of age and education levels when offering training.Impact StatementWhat is already known on this subject? An important factor in the protection of women from gynaecological cancers is awareness. Increasing the awareness of gynaecological cancer is important in terms of early diagnosis of the disease, treatment and reduction of mortality. Studies have shown that women's awareness of gynaecological cancers is generally above the moderate. There are, however, many factors that affect women's awareness of gynaecological cancer.What do the results of this study add? The present study shows that many factors have an effect on women's awareness of gynaecological cancer. In particular, age and education status had a relation with the mean scores for the GCAS and all its subscales.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Increasing awareness is very important for the early diagnosis and treatment of gynaecological cancers and reducing mortality. Health professionals should identify the factors affecting awareness of gynaecological cancer and continuously design and implement personalised education programs. The number of studies on the awareness of gynaecological cancer and the factors which influence this awareness is insufficient. It is thus necessary to increase the number of studies on this subject.

Awareness about Gynecologic Cancers and Related Factors among Healthy Women: A Cross-Sectional Study

The risk of cancer-related mortality and morbidity decreases when women are aware of the risk factors for gynecologic cancers and implement strategies such as attending relevant early screening programs. This cross-sectional study conducted between August 2017 and August 2018 at a public hospital in Turkey aimed to determine the awareness about gynecologic cancers among healthy women by utilized the Krieger's ecosocial theory as a framework for the study. The study included 554 Turkish women aged 18-65 years. Data were collected using the Gynecological Cancer Awareness Scale (GCAS) and a questionnaire designed in this study. Significant differences were noted between the average GCAS score and variables such as the amount of menstrual bleeding, entering menopause, a history of reproductive system disease, regular gynecological examination (including Pap test), regular vaginal self-examination, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), genital hygiene behavior, the fear of having cancer, having knowledge about cancer, and requiring information about cancer (p < .05). Despite the high level of awareness about gynecologic cancer among these women, the lack of proper knowledge and preventive measures was high. Having knowledge about gynecologic cancers results in increased awareness; however, the level of knowledge is not sufficient to prevent gynecologic cancers, which shows the need for sufficient and effective cancer screening and education programs.

Awareness of female malignancies among women and their partners in Southern Sri Lanka and implications for screening: a cross sectional study

BACKGROUND

The incidences of breast, cervical and uterine malignancies continue to increase in Sri Lanka. It is important to explore the awareness of both women and their male partners regarding these malignancies and available screening services as it would determine the health seeking behaviours of females.

METHODS

This was a cross sectional survey of couples residing in the Galle District of the Southern province of Sri Lanka. The sample was selected from all 17 health administrative divisions of the district. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect data on demography and level of awareness (risk factors, symptoms, signs, screening services) of breast, cervical and uterine cancers. Same questionnaire was used for both sexes except for gender specific questions.

RESULTS

A total of 282 (n-282, 564 individuals) couples were interviewed. The level of awareness regarding all malignancies was low. More than 50% of participants in both sexes scored less than half the points on a questionnaire testing awareness. Better family income, better education and permanent employment showed a significant association with better awareness in both sexes (univariate analysis). Encouragement by male partner was associated with better participation in some instances.

CONCLUSIONS

Community based health education on female malignancies needs to target both sexes. Educating males is important as, i) male partners can encourage females to utilize screening services and ii) some screening and preventive measures are relevant to males also. Better awareness of males may increase the uptake of screening services by females in societies with male dominant gender roles.