Barriers of screening and early detection of cervical cancer among Iraqi women in Dhi-Qar city

Abstract

Introduction: screening and early detection of cervical cancer are important to protect and promote women's health. Cervical cancer is a type of cancer; constitutes 12% of all cancer cases observed in women all over the world.
Objectives: Publishing in Iraq on cervical cancer screening is rare. Therefore, this study was carried out among Iraqi women in southern Iraq.
Methods: study was conducted among Iraqi women from health care establishments (PHCCs and hospitals) in different districts (Al-Nassyria, Al-Shattrah, Al-Gharraf and Al-Dawwaya) in Dhi-Qar city. A total of 307 women were selected at time of visit. An interview was carried out to fill the demographic and barriers checklist questionnaire, knowledge was scored as poor(0-3), fair(4-7) and good(8-11). score was used [8], [9].Variables were expressed by frequency and percentage.
Results: the results showed the demographic information of the participants, which indicates that (70.35%) were married, (68.72%) had high education, (77.52%) had the highest percentage among them were employed and had a monthly income, and that (93.16%) were from urban areas, but when comparing the level of awareness with what was published in previous studies, that one of the biggest barriers to early detection of cancer is poverty and living in rural. the qualitative information related to reproductive details, which showed that (61.23%) said yes, more than one sexual partner had an effect in cervical cancer as a risk factor, (73.61%) said yes, infected with sexually transmitted diseases effected, and (67.42%) infected with the human papilloma virus said yes, effected in cervical cancer. lack of awareness of the need for early detection of cancer was evident among the participants, where only (28.01%) of all participants knew or heard of the existence of cervical cancer early detection clinics. Good knowledge about risk factors that increase probability of cervical cancer was evident among the participants (48.5%) have score of knowledge (8-11).
Conclusion: Reducing barriers to screening and early detection of cervical cancer and regular screening among high-risk women in the Iraq requires a better understanding of screening options and an analysis of the use of appropriate technologies.