Background: High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common infection among young adult women and plays a critical role in developing genital cancer. Although HPV is essential for the transformation of cervical epithelial cells, it is not the sole factor. Cervical-vaginal infections act as cofactors to influence the progression of cervical HPV infection to high-grade lesions and cervical cancer. This study aimed to assess women's awareness about vaginal infections as a risk factor for cervical cancer and to decrease cervical cancer incidence in Al Taif city, Saudi Arabia.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among women with vaginal infections in Taif city, Saudi Arabia, from October 2017 to June 2018.
Results: The overall knowledge level of the study group was low regarding the symptoms of vaginal infection (36.11%), risk factors of vaginal infection (35.10%), and the symptoms of cancer cervix (35.95%). A positive correlation was shown between the level of education and general knowledge (p-value < 0.001) and also between the marital state of the study group and the knowledge of HPV as a risk factor for cervical cancer and the knowledge of HPV Vaccination (p-value < 0.001 and 0.031, respectively).
Conclusions: A widespread ignorance of females aged from 15 to 50 years, in Taif City, Saudi Arabia, was observed regarding the symptoms and risk factors of vaginal infection, which might contribute to the high incidence of cervical cancer. Furthermore, ignorance was shown about the screening tests and HPV vaccine as a protective vaccine against cancer cervix. The data provided a benchmark on the level of knowledge that could be used to formulate effective awareness programs.
Key words: Awareness, women, vaginal infection, risk factor, cervical cancer
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