Objective: This study aimed to assess the awareness and practices related to cervical cancer (CC) among women in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to improve awareness and preventive strategies.
Methods: The study was a cross-sectional design to collect data from 513 women in Jeddah. Convenience sampling was used for data collection, with questionnaires distributed online via social media.
Results: The results showed that 426 females (83%) had poor awareness of CC. However, 87 females (17%) had good awareness. Furthermore, 93.9% of participants correctly identified vaginal bleeding as a symptom of CC, while more than half recognized pain during urination (57.2%) and dyspareunia (61.1%) as significant symptoms. Regarding risk factors, 61.4% mentioned family history, and 58.7% cited sexually transmitted viruses. For screening, 73.5% were aware of the Pap smear test, but only 24.1% knew the correct annual frequency, and 22.8% recognized the 3-year interval. Awareness of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine was at 53.0%, with a low uptake of 6.6%. Age and marital status showed statistically significant differences in CC awareness (p-value < 0.05).
Conclusion: This study revealed significant awareness gaps regarding CC symptoms, risk factors, and preventive measures among women in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Awareness levels were significantly influenced by socio-demographic factors like age and employment status. Public health education campaigns are crucial to improve awareness and promote preventive measures such as HPV vaccination and Pap smear tests.
Key words: Cervical cancer, awareness, HPV, vaccination, awareness
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