Effectiveness of an Awareness program on Knowledge regarding Cervical Cancer among Women

Abstract

Cervical cancer is one of the most serious health problems affecting women across the world, particularly in developing and middle-income nations. It develops mainly due to a persistent infection with high-risk types of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), especially HPV16 and HPV 18, which are transmitted through sexual contact. This study is designed to evaluate the effectiveness of an awareness programme on knowledge regarding cervical cancer among women. The research design selected was a pre-experimental, one-group pre-test and post-test design, which helps in evaluating the difference in participants’ knowledge levels before and after the intervention. The study was conducted in the Chilkur, Moinabad Rural Community area of Hyderabad, Telangana. The target population for this study comprised women aged between 25 and 69 years residing in the selected community. A total of 100 participants was selected using a non-probability purposive sampling technique, based on their availability and willingness to participate in the study. A structured Interview Questionnaire administered to the samples followed with Awareness session on Cervical cancer and post test was conducted after the 7 days of intervention. The findings revealed that most participants were aged 30–39 years (31%), illiterate (33%), housewives (36%), and married (51%). The majority (42%) had irregular menstrual cycles, and 21% reported a family history of cancer.The mean pre-test score (9.25) increased to 14.76 in the post-test, indicating a notable improvement in knowledge following the awareness program. The obtained t-value (18.07) at df 99 and p = 0.001 confirms that the intervention was statistically significant in enhancing knowledge about cervical cancer. Therefore, the hypothesis H? is accepted, signifying a significant difference between pre- and post-test knowledge levels. The study concluded that structured awareness programs are effective tools for improving women’s understanding of cervical cancer, leading to better preventive behaviours and early detection.

Introduction

Cervical cancer is a major global health concern, especially in developing and middle-income countries, primarily caused by persistent infection with high-risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18. Although effective preventive measures such as Pap smear screening, HPV testing, and vaccination exist, many women do not utilize these services due to lack of awareness, fear, stigma, and limited access to healthcare. Cervical cancer also has significant psychological and social consequences, highlighting the need for both medical and educational interventions. In India, cervical cancer remains highly prevalent, with substantial regional variation and a high mortality rate largely due to late detection.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an awareness program on cervical cancer knowledge among women in a rural community of Hyderabad. A quantitative, pre-experimental one-group pre-test and post-test design was used, involving 100 women aged 25–70 years selected through purposive sampling. Knowledge was assessed using a structured, reliable questionnaire, and ethical standards were maintained throughout the study.

Results showed a marked improvement in participants’ knowledge following the awareness program. While most women initially had moderate knowledge and very few had high knowledge, post-test results revealed that the majority achieved a high level of knowledge. Statistical analysis confirmed a significant increase in mean knowledge scores, supporting the study hypothesis.

The findings demonstrate that structured awareness programs are highly effective in improving women’s knowledge about cervical cancer. The study recommends expanding similar educational interventions to larger and more diverse populations and conducting follow-up studies to assess long-term knowledge retention, ultimately contributing to early detection, prevention, and improved women’s health outcomes.

Conclusion

The study was conducted among 100 women residing in a rural community, Hyderabad, Telangana. The findings revealed that most participants were aged 30–39 years (31%), illiterate (33%), housewives (36%), and married (51%). The majority (42%) had irregular menstrual cycles, and 21% reported a family history of cancer. The mean pre-test score (9.25) increased to 14.76 in the post-test, indicating a notable improvement in knowledge following the awareness program. The obtained t-value (18.07) at df = 99 and p = 0.001 confirms that the intervention was statistically significant in enhancing knowledge about cervical cancer. Therefore, the hypothesis H? is accepted, signifying a significant difference between pre- and post-test knowledge levels. The findings suggest that structured awareness programs are effective tools for improving women’s understanding of cervical cancer, leading to better preventive behaviours and early detection.

References

[1] Muthuramalinga, M., & Muralidharan, V. R. (2023, June 26). Pattern in the prevalence and wealth-based inequality of cervical screening in India. National Center for Biotechnology Information. info@ncbi.nlm.nih.gov [2] Zhang, R., & Xu, W. (2024, April 30). Prevalence of high-risk human papillomavirus infection, associated risk factors, and relationship with cervical precancerous lesions in premenopausal and older women in an area with high cervical cancer incidence in China. Cureus. info@ncbi.nlm.nih.gov [3] Tekalign, T. T. (2022, April 27). Prevalence and determinants of late-stage presentation among cervical cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS ONE. info@ncbi.nlm.nih.gov [4] Alkhamis, F. H., Alabbas, Z., & Alabbas, S. (2023, November 24). Prevalence and predictive factors of cervical cancer screening in Saudi Arabia. Cureus.

Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Mrs. Mallika Nelaturi, Dr. Jabila Gnana Thiah Albert. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.