Knowledge and Practice of Cervical Cancer Prevention and its Associated Factors among Primary School Female Teachers of Hawassa City, Southern Ethiopia: Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Objective: This study was assessed knowledge and practice of cervical cancer prevention, and its associated factors among primary school female teachers of Hawassa city, southern Ethiopia. Methods: A school-based cross-sectional study design was used to investigate the Knowledge and practice of cervical cancer prevention and its associated factors. Data was collected from 475 female teachers with simple random sampling techniques. Data were analyzed and presented with frequency, proportion, mean and standard deviations while crude odds ratio and p-value were generated with binary logistic regression. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify associated factors of knowledge and practices towards cervical cancer prevention with p-value ≤ 0.05. Results: From 475 respondents 129 (27.2%) were knowledgeable and 95 (20%) have practices to prevent cervical cancer. Age 35-39 years old were 2.20 times and have a history of pregnancy 2.09 times(Adjusted odds ratio 2.20, 95% Confidence Interval: 1.11-3.46) and (Adjusted odds ratio 2.09, 95%, Confidence Interval: 1.08-4.05) respectively, increases the odds of a good level of knowledge. On the other hand Age between 30-39 years old were 1.85 times more likely (Adjusted odds ratio 1.85, 95% Confidence Interval: 1.02-3.36), and those having a good level of knowledge 6.14 times more likely (Adjusted odds ratio 6.14, 95% Confidence Interval: 3.71-10.16) increases the odds level of practices. Conclusions: Inthis study knowledge and practice towards cervical cancer prevention were low. Age 35-39 years old, and was having history of pregnancy, increases the odds of a good knowledge. Where-as age 30-39 years old and was having a good level of knowledge increases the odds practices towards cervical cancer prevention. Therefore counseling with information, education, communication and service should be given at maternal and child health units and platforms should be created in schools to give health health education in order to reach more need specific groups. Keywords: Cervical cancer, Knowledge, Practice, Teachers, Hawassa, Prevention information