Knowing the causative/risk factors, symptoms and preventive measures of a particular cancer can make all the differences, without this prevention is far more difficult. Though there is lack of studies conducted in Ethiopia, studies conducted worldwide have shown that there is poor knowledge of both cervical and breast cancer among women [12]. In this study, 78.7% of women had heard about cervical cancer which is consistent with the study conducted in Ghana, Accra (93.0%). But higher than the findings from Nigeria (40.8%) [13, 14]. This gap might be due to the difference in time period and nature of the population the two studies conducted, as the Nigeria study is conducted on rural women. Television/Radio was mentioned as the main source of information (60.8%) for cervical cancer by the respondents concurring with the finding of the study in Nigeria (46.4%) [14].
Only 31.0% of the study participants were able to identify at least one risk factor for cervical cancer like STIs, early onset of sexual activity, multiple sexual partner and smoking. A study done in South Africa showed that 64.0% of the respondents gave one or more correct risk factors [15]. The difference might be attributed to the fact that South Africa has a national cervical cancer screening policy. But in Ethiopia, there is no organized reproductive organ cancer prevention, education, screening, or curative care program, nor is there is any national policy to address this issue.
Prevention and early detection are keys to the reduction of incidence and progression of many chronic diseases including cancer [16]. Around two third (63.9%) of the respondents knew that cervical cancer can be prevented. This is higher than the South African study which 57.0% of the respondents knew that cervical cancer can be prevented [15]. This difference can be explained by the difference in the background of the study participants and the time gap as better attention has been given to cancer these days. Fifteen percent of the respondents believe that cervical cancer cannot be cured. This can be an indication of the presence of misconception about the disease in this community and may hinder prevention efforts.
Though majority of the respondents had heard about cervical cancer, only one third (31.0%) of the respondents were found to have above-average knowledge. Different studies from Nigeria (23.4%) and Ghana (37.0%) [14, 13] also showed that comprehensive knowledge about cervical cancer is low.
In many studies, different socio demographic variables have shown an influence on knowledge of cervical cancer. In this study, women with secondary and above level of education were about two times more likely to have above-average knowledge than women with no formal education. The importance of educational status on knowledge of cervical cancer has been mentioned in a study done in Cameroon [17].
In addition, knowing someone with cervical cancer and ever visit to health institution were significant predictors of knowledge. Women who knew someone affected with cervical cancer were about five times more likely to have above-average knowledge than women who did not. Similarly women who ever visited health institution for any reason were eight times more likely to have above-average knowledge about cervical cancer than women who didn’t. This indicates that women who visited health institutions have a higher chance of getting more comprehensive information from health professionals in the form of health education or counseling or from people who are affected by the disease.
Most invasive cancers of the cervix can be prevented if women have Pap tests regularly. The general recommendation for Pap smear is each woman in high-risk target demographic groups is screened once before any woman is screened a second time [18]. In this study only 13.7% of the women had heard about Pap smear and only 14.7% of them had the test. This finding is consistent with the study in Nigeria where 73.0% of the women were not aware of the test and only 5.2% had the test [14]. Another Nigerian study also showed that only 7.1% of the respondents had the test [19]. But, the finding is lower than the study in South Africa where 49.0% of the respondents ever heard of the test and 18.0% had the test [15]. The difference is not surprising because pap smear is widely available as a screening tool in South Africa and there is also national pap smear policy where as pap test is available only in some health institutions in Ethiopia.