Survey of knowledge, attitudes and practices of saint louis providers on cervical cancer

Abstract

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of providers in Saint Louis of Senegal on screening for cervical cancer. Methodology: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study from the 1st to the 31st of August, carried out at the CHR, the health district and the various health posts of Saint-Louis in the providers (doctors, nurses and midwives). state woman).. Data collection was done using a pre-structured questionnaire. The data was entered and computerized using the Epi info software. Results: For 93.0% of respondents, cervical cancer was a real public health problem. For 39.7% of practitioners, screening in the target age group should always be done. Providers surveyed reported that cervical cancer screening had a significant role in reducing morbidity and mortality in 37.9%. The main symptom experienced by providers was metrorrhagia (37.9%). Some providers were confused between metrorrhagia and leucorrhea. The level of use of screening by staff was modest: only 30% of respondents had used cervical cancer screening, although 65.5% said that the screening test existed in their health facility. Only 5.1% of the health personnel surveyed had benefited from the cervical cancer screening test. This screening was done either by a gynecologist or a midwife in a public hospital. The main factors influencing this screening were: the lack of financial means (28.6%), the shame / embarrassment of the examination of the genital system [23,8%],  and the fear of the conditions of realization of the screening. Conclusion: Knowledge, attitudes and practices about cervical cancer among Saint-Louis providers were considered insufficient at the end of the study. The main offending factors were lack of training, shame / gene of genital examination, lack of time, lack of materials and lack of means.