Academia Open
Vol 10 No 1 (2025): June (In Progress)
Clinical Research

Cervical Cancer Screening Knowledge and Practices Among Women in Basra
Pengetahuan dan Praktik Skrining Kanker Serviks di Kalangan Perempuan di Basra


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  • Huda Ali Tawfeeq,
  • Elaf Mohammed Saleh,
  • Hanadi Lazim Obaid*
Huda Ali Tawfeeq
Al-Abbas Health Center, Third Sector for Primary Health Care, Basrah Health Directorate, Basr, Iraq
Elaf Mohammed Saleh
Public Health Department, Basrah Health Directorate, Basrah, Iraq
Hanadi Lazim Obaid
Second Sector for Primary Health Care, Basrah Health Directorate, Basrah, Iraq *

(*) Corresponding Author
Picture in here are illustration from public domain image or provided by the author, as part of their works
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21070/acopen.10.2025.10814
Published April 16, 2025
Keywords
  • Knowledge,
  • Attitude,
  • Practice,
  • Cervical Cancer Screening Test,
  • Women
How to Cite
Tawfeeq, H. A., Saleh, E. M., & Obaid, H. L. (2025). Cervical Cancer Screening Knowledge and Practices Among Women in Basra. Academia Open, 10(1), 10.21070/acopen.10.2025.10814. https://doi.org/10.21070/acopen.10.2025.10814

Copyright (c) 2025 Huda Ali Tawfeeq, Elaf Mohammed Saleh, Hanadi Lazim Obaid

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Abstract

Background: Cervical cancer is a major global public health issue, ranking as the third most common cancer among women worldwide. Specific Background: Effective prevention relies on adequate knowledge and the willingness to undergo screening, yet data on these aspects remain limited in many low-resource settings. Knowledge Gap: In southern Iraq, particularly Basra, little is known about women's awareness, attitudes, and practices regarding cervical cancer screening. Aim: This study aimed to assess women's knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward cervical cancer screening in primary healthcare centers in Basra. Results: A randomized descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 women aged ≥20 years using systematic and random sampling across 12 health centers. Only 10.5% demonstrated good knowledge, and 2.75% had undergone a Pap smear, with 31.1% citing social media as their main information source. A significant association was found between knowledge and variables such as age, education, employment, and family history of cancer. Despite low screening rates, 62.75% exhibited a positive attitude. Novelty: This study is among the few in Iraq to explore the multifactorial dimensions of cervical cancer screening behavior. Implications: The findings highlight the urgent need for targeted health education interventions to improve screening uptake and correct misconceptions among women in underserved regions.

Highlights:

  1. Low cervical cancer screening and knowledge among women in Basra.
  2. Assess knowledge, attitudes, practices toward cervical cancer screening.
  3. Poor knowledge, low screening rates, but positive attitudes observed.

Keywords: Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, Cervical Cancer Screening Test, Women

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