Table 3.

Respondents answering cancer screening and contraceptive knowledge questions correctly

		n	% correct	95% CI
PAP SMEAR	CORRECT ANSWERS
Who should get a Pap smear?	Adult women	729	72.7	69.3–75.9
Why is a Pap smear performed?	Cervical cancer screening	724	73.2	69.8–76.4
How often do most people undergo a Pap smear?*	Yearly	724	74.0	70.0–77.2
All correct answers		717	52.9	49.1–56.6
BREAST SELF-EXAM
Who should examine their own breasts?	Adult women	728	91.4	89.1–93.3
Why should a woman examine her own breasts?	Breast cancer screening	726	94.2	92.3–95.8
How often should a woman examine her own breasts?	Monthly	725	82.5	79.5–85.2
All correct answers		721	78.5	75.3–81.4
MAMMOGRAM
Who should have a mammogram?	Age 40+/advised by doctor	722	50.3	46.7–54.0
Why should a woman have a mammogram?	Breast cancer screening	723	86.7	84.0–89.1
How often should a woman typically have a mammogram?*	Every 5 years	718	62.1	58.5–65.7
All correct answers		718	35.4	31.9–40.0
BIRTH CONTROL PILLS
Who may take birth control pills?	Only women	717	87.2	84.5–89.5
Why might someone take birth control pills?	Prevent pregnancy	718	95.8	94.4–97.2
How often should someone take birth control pills?	Daily	717	91.9	90.0–93.8
All correct answers		713	82.5	79.5–85.2
EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION
Can birth control pills taken after sex prevent pregnancy?	Yes	713	25.0	21.8–28.3
CONDOMS
Who should use condoms during sex?	Anyone having sex	709	92.0	89.7–93.6
Why should someone use condoms during sex?	Prevent pregnancy/infection	707	96.5	94.8–97.7
How often should someone use condoms?	Always with sex	706	92.9	90.8–94.7
All correct answers		700	87.9	85.2–90.1

n.b. All questions are paraphrased here for conciseness.

*"Unless otherwise directed by a doctor" stated for these questions