Introduction: Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide. In India, it is one of the leading causes of mortality among women accounting for 23.3% of all cancer deaths. India accounts for about 20% of cervical cancer cases reported from the world. More than three-fourths of these patients are diagnosed in advanced stages leading to poor prospects of long-term survival and cure. Early detection of cervical cancer is possible with pap smear tests. The purpose of the study is to assess the awareness and risk factors of cancer cervix among women undergoing pap smear tests. Methods: The present study adopted a nonexperimental explorative design. The total sample was 150. A purposive sampling technique was used to select the samples at IMS and SUM Hospital, Bhubaneswar. The tools used to collect the data were as follows: 1. Demographic questionnaire, 2. Structured questionnaires based on awareness of cancer cervix, and 3. Structured questionnaire to assess the risk factors for cancer cervix. Data was collected by Questionnaire method. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Result: A total of 150 women participated in the study and it was revealed that maximum participants had average knowledge (76%), 12.66% of the participants had poor knowledge where as 11.3% had good knowledge. Approximately, one-third (36%) of the participants had the highest risk factor. Association between level of knowledge and demographic variables depicts that there is significant statistical association found between knowledge level and age ((x2=16.009, p =0.002). And association between level of risk of developing cervical cancer and demographic variables depicts that there is significant statistical association found between risk level and age (x2 =9.891, p=0.017), number of children (x2=11.644 p=0.010), present complain of pap smear test (x2=17.327, p=0.001). Conclusion: The result of the present study concluded that there is a need to create awareness related to risk factors of cervical cancer in women undergoing pap smear tests.
Cervical cancer, Pap smear test, Awareness, Risk factor
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