Table 2 Attitudes, beliefs and practices towards cervical cancer, its screening and treatment among women with cervical cancer in Harare
Questions | Women with cervical cancer [N = 134] (%) Yes |
|---|---|
Attitudes | |
Cervical cancer treatment is for people with money | 23 (17) |
Cervical cancer treatment procedure is embarrassing | 1 (2) |
Screening is important for early treatment of cervical cancer | 131 (98) |
Beliefs | |
Cervical cancer treatment saves lives | 133 (99) |
Cervical cancer treatment gives a woman and their family peace of mind | 133 (99) |
Cervical cancer treatment gives a woman control over her health. | 133 (99) |
Cervical cancer treatment is not painful | 70 (28) |
Cervical cancer treatment has no side-effects. | 83 (69) |
Cervical cancer treatment is for all women regardless of background | 128 (95) |
Cervical cancer cannot be treated | 11 (8) |
Cervical cancer patients do not survive long even when treated | 7 (5) |
Cervical cancer is best treated with herbs/traditional medicines | 14 (10) |
Cervical cancer is best treated using spiritual means performed by prophets and pastors. | 14 (10) |
Cervical cancer treatment is best done abroad | 73 (54) |
Health professionals abroad provide better care for cervical cancer patients. | 45 (33) |
Cervical cancer patients treated abroad have better survival chances | 39 (29) |
Practices | |
Do you have a regular doctor whom you see when you require health services? | 64 (48) |
Women ever screened for cervical cancer | 127 (95) |
Women screened at least once in their life time | 88 (66) |