Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Cervical Cancer Knowledge and Prevention Among College Women

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Community Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess cervical cancer knowledge and prevention practices among college women and to determine predictors of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in this group. A quantitative approach using two varying groups of women was undertaken. College women and women visiting a local community health center were surveyed on items assessing cervical cancer knowledge and prevention practices. Altogether, 410 women were sampled, 217 college women and 193 from the local community health center. HPV vaccine initiation was higher among the college group (36 %) compared to (5 %) among the community health center group. Seventy three (73 %) percent of women in the community group had a Papanicolaou test in the preceding 3 years compared to (61.8 %) in the college group. College women reported higher cervical cancer knowledge than community women. This study highlights that cervical cancer knowledge and preventive practices are variable among women and that significant differences exist among college and community women. This calls for more strategic and accessible services incorporating group specific messages and interventions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Carter, J., & Downs, L. (2011). Cervical cancer tests and treatment, the female patient. Parsippany, 36, 34–37.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Freeman, H. P., & Wingrove, B. K. (2005). Excess cervical cancer mortality: A marker for low access to health care in poor communities (pp. 05–5282). Rockville, MD: National Cancer Institute, Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Giuliano, A. R., Palefsky, J. M., Goldstone, S., Moreira, E. D, Jr, Penny, M. E., Aranda, C., et al. (2011). Efficacy of quadrivalent HPV vaccine against HPV Infection and disease in males. New England Journal of Medicine, 364, 401–411.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. American Cancer Society Cancer Facts and Figures (2010). American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA. Retrieved from http://www.cancer.org/Research/CancerFactsFigures/index.

  5. Can, G., Carmen, W. H., Sheila, T., & Kai, C. C. (2012). The influence of knowledge and perception of the risk of cervical cancer on screening behavior in mainland Chinese women. Psycho-Oncology, 12, 1299–1308.

    Google Scholar 

  6. American Cancer Society (2008). Detailed guide: cervical cancer-can cervical cancer be found early? Retrieved from: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_3X_Can_cervical_cancer_be_found_early_8.asp.

  7. Muñoz, N., Bosch, F. X., De Sanjosé, S., Herrero, R., Castellsagué, X., Shah, K. V., et al. (2003). International Agency for Research on Cancer Multicenter Cervical Cancer Study Group: Epidemiological classification of human papillomavirus types associated with cervical cancer. New England Journal of Medicine, 348, 518–527.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Schiffman, M., & Wentzensen, N. (2010). From Human Papillomavirus to Cervical Cancer. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 116, 177–185. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

  9. Baldwin, S., Cui, Y., & Wiley, D. (2007). HPV vaccine awareness, use, and attitudes in a diverse parent population. LosAngeles: Los Angeles County Health Survey.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Schlutermana, H., & Terplan, M. (2011). Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine uptake and completion at an urban hospital. Vaccine, 29, 3767–3772.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Gerend, M., Zita, F., & Maglorie, B. S. (2008). Awareness, knowledge, and beliefs about human papillomavirus in a racially diverse sample of young adults. Journal of Adolescent Health, 42, 237–242.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Widdice, L., & Moscicki, A. (2008). Updated guidelines for papanicolaou tests, colposcopy, and human papillomavirus testing in adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 43, S41–S51.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Dunne, E. F., Unger, E. R., Sternberg, M., et al. (2007). Prevalence of HPV infection among females in the United States. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 297(8), 813–819.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Selvin, E., & Brett, K. (2003). Breast and Cervical cancer screening: Sociodemographic Predictors among White, Black, and Hispanic Women. American Journal of Public Health, 93(4), 618–623.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Wong, P., Wong, L., Low, Y., Khoo, M., & Shuib, R. (2009). Knowledge and awareness of cervical cancer and screening among Malaysian women who have never had a Pap smear: A qualitative study. Singapore Medical Journal, 50(1), 49–53.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Fang, C., Ma, G., & Tan, Y. (2011). Overcoming barriers to cervical cancer screening among Asian American women. North American Journal of Medicine and Science, 4(2), 77–83.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Licht, A., Murphy, J., Hyland, A., Fix, B., Hawk, L., & Mahone, M. (2010). Is use of the human papillomavirus vaccine among female college students related to human papillomavirus knowledge and risk perception? Sexually Transmitted Infections, 86, 74–78.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Schlutermana, H., & Terplan, M. (2011). Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine uptake and completion at an urban hospital. Vaccine, 29, 3767–3772.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Juon, H. S., Seung-Lee, C., & Klassen, A. C. (2003). Predictors of regular Pap smears among Korean-American women. Preventive Medicine, 37, 585–592.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Lee, E.E., Tripp-Reimer, T., Miller, A.M., Sadler, G.R., Lee, S.Y. Korean American women’s beliefs about breast and cervical cancer and associated symbolic meanings. Oncol Nurs Forum. 34(3), 713–720.

  21. Fang, C., Ma, G., & Tan, Y. (2011). Overcoming barriers to cervical cancer screening among Asian American women. North American Journal of Medicine and Science, 4(2), 77–83.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2010). Health disparities in cancer. US Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.

  23. Wong, P. (2009). Preventing cervical cancer through human papillomavirus vaccination: Perspective from focus groups. Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease, 13(2), 85–93.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Fang, C., Ma, G., & Tan, Y. (2011). Overcoming Barriers to Cervical Cancer Screening Among Asian American Women. North American Journal of Medicine and Science, 4(2), 77–83.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Strander, B. (2009). At what age should cervical screening stop? British Medical Journal, 338, 1022–1023.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2010). Health disparities in cancer. US Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.

  27. The Health belief model. Jones and Bartlett Publishers LLC. Available at http://www.jblearning.com/samples/0763743836/Chapter%204.pdf.

  28. Widdice, L., & Moscicki, A. (2008). Updated guidelines for papanicolaou tests, colposcopy, and human papillomavirus testing in adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 43, S41–S51.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was made possible by a research Grant from Nova Southeastern University Health Professionals Department. The Authors wish to thank Patrick Hardigan, Kristin Kruger, and the staff of the MPH program for their positive contribution. We would also like to thank all the women who participated in this study. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors. The institutional review board at Nova Southeastern University and Broward family and Community Health Centers granted approval for the study. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors.

Conflict of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael Wolwa.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wolwa, M., Blavo, C., Shah, R. et al. Cervical Cancer Knowledge and Prevention Among College Women. J Community Health 38, 997–1002 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-013-9707-8

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-013-9707-8

Keywords

Navigation