Table 2.
Awareness of warning signs/symptoms and risk factors of cervical cancer
| Signs and symptoms | Recall | Recognition | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| n | (%) | n | (%) | |
| Vaginal bleeding between periods | 72 | (19.5) | 185 | (50.0) |
| Persistent lower back pain | 20 | (5.4) | 88 | (23.8) |
| Persistent vaginal discharge | 28 | (7.6) | 147 | (39.7) |
| Discomfort or pain during sex | 8 | (2.2) | 116 | (31.4) |
| Menstrual periods heavier or longer than usual | 63 | (17.0) | 126 | (34.1) |
| Persistent diarrhoea | 1 | (0.3) | 54 | (14.6) |
| Vaginal bleeding after the menopause | 16 | (4.3) | 204 | (55.1) |
| Persistent pelvic pain | 9 | (2.4) | 133 | (35.9) |
| Vaginal bleeding during or after sex | 7 | (1.9) | 59 | (15.9) |
| Blood in the stool or urine | 5 | (1.4) | 105 | (28.4) |
| Unexplained weight loss | 2 | (0.5) | 112 | (30.3) |
| Risk factors | ||||
| HPV infection | 2 | (0.5) | 164 | (44.3) |
| Smoking | 37 | (10.0) | 212 | (57.3) |
| Weakened immune system | 19 | (5.1) | 245 | (66.2) |
| Use of contraceptives | 31 | (8.4) | 196 | (53.0) |
| Infected with chlamydia | 0 | (0.0) | 150 | (40.5) |
| A sexual partner who is not circumcised | 0 | (0.0) | 94 | (25.4) |
| Starting sex at a young age | 6 | (1.6) | 93 | (25.1) |
| Many sexual partners | 5 | (1.4) | 196 | (53.0) |
| Having many children | 8 | (2.2) | 82 | (22.2) |
| A sexual partner with many previous partners | 2 | (0.5) | 179 | (48.4) |
| Not going for a regular pap smear | 23 | (6.2) | 243 | (65.7) |