Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Paramedical and Female Support Staff in the Health District of Tivaouane on Cervical Cancer, Senegal

With the epidemiological transition, cervical cancer is currently a public health problem in Senegal, hence the importance of implementing preventive measures. The objective of the study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of female paramedical staff in the district of Tivaouane regarding cervical cancer. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among these personnel in Tivaouane from June to October 2020. It was found that 99.1% of our study population had heard of cervical cancer, 77.2% thought they could define it but only 47.7% gave a good definition. The level of knowledge was 40.7% for the age of detection of cervical cancer, 29.8% for the population at risk, 4.4% for the notion of heredity in the occurrence of cancer, 7.9% for the risk factors and 43.9% for the symptoms. Vaccination and screening were the most commonly known means of prevention. The main source of information was the media (61.06%). The determinants of knowledge were: being a midwife (p = 0.008) and/or having a high level of education (p = 0.001). However, only 55.3% had advised women to undergo cancer screening. Of the agents, 65.8% had been screened. The need for education was 98.2% of the agents. Almost all (96.5%) of the respondents favored routine screening, 84.2% said there was no cure for cervical cancer, and only 4.4% trusted traditional medicine. Training on cervical cancer was provided to only 29.8% of the study population, and 98.2% had expressed a desire for more information on the condition. The level of knowledge of the paramedical staff in the district was insufficient, hence the interest in implementing training on this condition for these staff in order to strengthen their knowledge and skills.