Effect of Educational Program on Knowledge and Preventive Practices Regarding Cervical Cancer Screening and Human Papillomavirus Vaccine among Childbearing Women

Abstract

Background: Cervical cancer knowledge level and human papillomavirus vaccine wasinsufficient among women aged 20–45 years old, especially those of lower socioeconomiccondition. Aim: assess the effect of the educational program on knowledge andpreventive practices regarding cervical cancer screening and human papillomavirusvaccine among childbearing women. Methods: a quasi-experimental pre and post-testdesign was used. Sample: a purposive sample of 135 women aged 18-44 years. Two toolswere used to conduct this study. Tool (1): An interview questionnaire consisted of twoparts: the first part involved personal, obstetrical, and family planning data, history ofcervical cancer, pap smear testing, and HPV vaccine. The second part was the knowledgeof cervical cancer, screening, and HPV vaccine. Tool (2) was the women's preventivepractices regarding cervical cancer screening and the HPV vaccine. Results: The findingsof this study illustrated that before intervention 8.1%, 12.6% & 23.7% of the participantshad good knowledge, satisfactory practice & performed CC screening respectively. Afterintervention 73.3% of participants had good knowledge, 82.2% and 98.5% of them hadsatisfactory practice and performed CC screening respectively (p-value <0.01).Conclusion: a structured educational intervention substantially improved knowledge andinfluenced practice changing of participants regarding cervical cancer screening and HPVvaccination. Recommendations: the establishment of nationwide education programs, aswell as screening programs, and raising awareness campaigns to improve access tocervical cancer prevention services were recommended.