Increasing Cervical Cancer Awareness and Screening in Jamaica: Effectiveness of a Theory-Based Educational Intervention

Evelyn Coronado Interis, Chidinma P. Anakwenze, Maug Aung and Pauline E. Jolly
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Evelyn Coronado Interis: School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
Chidinma P. Anakwenze: School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
Maug Aung: Epidemiology and Research Unit, Western Regional Health Authority, Montego Bay, Jamaica
Pauline E. Jolly: School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA

IJERPH, 2015, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Despite declines in cervical cancer mortality in developed countries, cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates remain high in Jamaica due to low levels of screening. Effective interventions are needed to decrease barriers to preventive behaviors and increase adoption of behaviors and services to improve prospects of survival. We enrolled 225 women attending health facilities in an intervention consisting of a pre-test, educational presentation and post-test. The questionnaires assessed attitudes, knowledge, risk factors, and symptoms of cervical cancer among women. Changes in knowledge and intention to screen were assessed using paired t -tests and tests for correlated proportions. Participants were followed approximately six months post-intervention to determine cervical cancer screening rates. We found statistically significant increases from pre-test to post-test in the percentage of questions correctly answered and in participants’ intention to screen for cervical cancer. The greatest improvements were observed in responses to questions on knowledge, symptoms and prevention, with some items increasing up to 62% from pre-test to post-test. Of the 123 women reached for follow-up, 50 (40.7%) screened for cervical cancer. This theory-based education intervention significantly increased knowledge of and intention to screen for cervical cancer, and may be replicated in similar settings to promote awareness and increase screening rates.

Keywords: cervical cancer; screening; health promotion; intervention; risk; prevention; disease control; health behavior (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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