|
1
|
Elshami M, Abukmail H, Thalji M, Al-Slaibi I, Alser M, Radaydeh A, Alfuqaha A, Khader S, Khatib L, Fannoun N, Ahmad B, Kassab L, Khrishi H, Elhussaini D, Abed N, Nammari A, Abdallah T, Alqudwa Z, Idais S, Tanbouz G, Hajajreh M, Selmiyh HA, Abo-Hajouj Z, Hebi H, Zamel M, Skaik RN, Hammoud L, Rjoub S, Ayesh H, Rjoub T, Zakout R, Alser A, Albarqi SI, Abu-El-Noor N, Bottcher B. Myths and common misbeliefs about cervical cancer causation among Palestinian women: a national cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:189. [PMID: 38229049 PMCID: PMC10790379 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-17733-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cervical cancer (CC) myths and beliefs can negatively impact women's preventive behaviors, including vaccination against human papillomavirus and having regular screening tests. This study aimed to examine awareness of Palestinian women about myths related to CC causation and investigated factors associated with good awareness. METHODS A national cross-sectional study was conducted to recruit adult Palestinian women from hospitals, primary healthcare facilities, and public areas in 11 Palestinian governorates. A translated-into-Arabic version of the Cancer Awareness Measure-Mythical Causes Scale was used to collect data. Awareness level was determined based on the number of CC myths around CC causation recognized to be incorrect: poor (0-4), fair (5-9), and good (10-13). RESULTS A total of 7058 questionnaires were included. Myths unrelated to food were more commonly recognized as incorrect compared to those related to food. The most recognized food-unrelated myth was 'having a physical trauma' (n = 3714, 52.6%), whereas the least recognized was 'using mobile phones' (n = 2238, 31.7%). The most recognized food-related myth was 'drinking from plastic bottles' (n = 2708, 38.4%), whereas the least recognized was 'eating food containing additives' (n = 1118, 15.8%). Only 575 participants (8.1%) displayed good awareness and promptly recognized at least 10 out of 13 myths around CC causation as incorrect. Factors associated with lower likelihood of displaying good awareness of myths around CC causation included living in the West Bank and Jerusalem, being married, widowed or divorced, knowing someone with cancer, and visiting hospitals or primary healthcare centers. CONCLUSIONS A very small proportion of Palestinian women recognized 10 or more myths around CC causes as incorrect. Initiatives addressing CC myths are needed in the Palestinian community.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohamedraed Elshami
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Lakeside 7100, Cleveland, OH, USA.
- Ministry of Health, Gaza, Palestine.
| | - Hanan Abukmail
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- International Medical Corps, Gaza, Palestine
| | - Mariam Thalji
- Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine
| | | | - Mohammed Alser
- The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Gaza, Palestine
| | - Afnan Radaydeh
- Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine
| | - Alaa Alfuqaha
- Faculty of Graduate Studies, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Salma Khader
- Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine
| | - Lana Khatib
- Faculty of Medicine, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Nour Fannoun
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Alazhar University of Gaza, Gaza, Palestine
| | - Bisan Ahmad
- Faculty of Medicine, Islamic University of Gaza, Gaza, Palestine
| | | | - Hiba Khrishi
- Faculty of Dentistry and Dental Surgery, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine
| | - Deniz Elhussaini
- Faculty of Medicine, Alazhar University of Gaza, Gaza, Palestine
| | - Nour Abed
- Faculty of Medicine, Islamic University of Gaza, Gaza, Palestine
| | - Aya Nammari
- Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine
| | | | - Zaina Alqudwa
- Faculty of Medicine, Alazhar University of Gaza, Gaza, Palestine
| | - Shahd Idais
- Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine
- Hebron Governmental Hospital, Hebron, Palestine
| | - Ghaid Tanbouz
- Faculty of Dentistry and Dental Surgery, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine
| | | | | | | | - Haya Hebi
- Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine
| | - Manar Zamel
- Faculty of Medicine, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | | | - Lama Hammoud
- Faculty of Dentistry and Dental Surgery, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine
| | - Saba Rjoub
- Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine
| | - Hadeel Ayesh
- Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine
| | - Toqa Rjoub
- Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine
| | - Rawan Zakout
- Faculty of Medicine, Islamic University of Gaza, Gaza, Palestine
| | | | | | | | - Bettina Bottcher
- Faculty of Medicine, Islamic University of Gaza, Gaza, Palestine
| |
Collapse
|