Cervical cancer perceived risks and associated factors among women in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Examining the risk perception of one of the most life-threatening cancers among women, such as cervical cancer, will guide the development of  targeted advocacy and educational programs to reduce the burden of the disease. The current study investigated cervical cancer perceived risks  and associated factors among Saudi women. A cross-sectional study was conducted through a social media-based survey, which conveniently  targeted 1085 Saudi women in Najran city. The survey questionnaire consisted of four parts: basic sociodemographic data, cervical cancer  knowledge quiz, attitude scale, and risk perception Scale. The present study confirmed that 57.4% of the study participants had high-risk perception  regarding cervical cancer. Among the study participants, 42.6% had a low perception of the risk of cervical cancer, 57.3% had unsatisfactory  knowledge, while 59.4% had a positive attitude (59.4%) towards cervical cancer prevention and its screening. The binary logistic regression proved  that the positive significant factors associated with risk perception were higher education [AOR=3.105 (1.300 - 7.418), p=0.011], increasing age  [AOR=1.191 (1.043-1.359), p=0.005], longer duration of marriage [AOR=3.123 (1.112 - 8.767), p=0.031], having family history of cancer/cervical cancer  [AOR=4.498 (1.119 - 18.085), p=0.034], satisfactory knowledge [AOR=2.304 (1.289 - 4.116), p=0.005], and positive attitude [AOR=3.248 (2.532 -  4.166), p=0.000]. We conclude that more than half of the women in Najran city had high cervical cancer-related risk perception while more than two-  fifths perceived low risk with unsatisfactory knowledge and a positive attitude. These results highlight the pressing need to develop cervical cancer  health education programs to foster risk perception as a driving strategy for the prevention of cervical cancer in Saudi Arabian women.