Table 2 Participant knowledge and beliefs

Cervical cancer prevention and screening awareness (% yes)

 Have you ever heard of cervical cancer?

0.36

 Have you ever heard of cervical cancer screening?

1

 Have you ever heard of a pap smear or a test where the doctor looks at a little piece of your cervix?

0.01

 Have you ever heard of visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) or the vinegar test?

0.34

 Have you heard of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine?

0.51

 Do you know anyone who has been screened for cervical cancer?

0.53

Cervical cancer screening and risk knowledge (% correct)

 Screening tests look for changes on your cervix that indicate you are at risk for cervical cancer (T)

0.18

 Women should get screened for cervical cancer only if they have symptoms (F)

0.01

 If a woman has abnormal vaginal bleeding…she should see a medical provider to get screened (T)

 Cervical cancer can be prevented (T)

0.67

 Screening tests can help prevent cervical cancer (T)

0.28

 There is no treatment for cervical cancer (F)

0.80

 Family planning increases a woman’s risk of cervical cancer (F)

0.07

 Having HIV increases a woman’s risk of cervical cancer (T)

0.13

 Only HIV + women are at risk of getting cervical cancer (F)

0.54

 Women can lower their risk of cervical cancer by washing inside their vagina (F)

0.01

 Women can lower their risk of cervical cancer by getting a screening test (T)

0.45

 Women can do nothing to prevent cervical cancer because it is fate or God’s will (F)

0.96

HPV-specific knowledge (% correct)

 HPV is an infection that can cause cervical cancer (T)

0.64

 HPV is spread by close contact between humans like during sexual intercourse (T)

0.71

 People with an HPV infection will always have vaginal symptoms (F)

0.67

HIV awareness

 Have you heard about the disease known as HIV and AIDS? (Y)

 Is HIV and AIDS a communicable disease? (Y)

1

 Is HIV the infection that causes AIDS? (Y)

1

 Does AIDS affect the immune system? (Y)

–

HIV transmission knowledge (% correct)

 By sexual intercourse (Y)

–

 Through witchcraft or other supernatural means (N)

0.67

 From mother to child (Y)

0.45

 By sharing needle or syringe (Y)

0.67

 By blood transfusion (Y)

0.19

 By shaking hands (N)

0.90

 By eating from same plate or drinking from same glass as a person with HIV (N)

0.83

 By wearing the same clothes as a person with HIV (N)

0.53

 By a bite from a mosquito or other insect (N)

0.25

 Through contact with a doctor, dentist, or other health care professional (N)

0.07

 Through a curse (N)

0.84

 As a punishment from God (N)

0.19

HIV prevention knowledge (% correct)

 By not sharing needles, syringes, or apparatus to inject drugs, vitamins, hormones, steroids, or medicine (Y)

0.93

 HIV can be prevented by using condoms properly during sexual intercourse (Y)

0.45

 HIV transmission can be avoided by remaining faithful to a single partner (Y)

–

 HIV transmission can be avoided by having a blood test before marriage (N)

–

 HIV can be prevented by avoiding blood transfusions (Y)

0.43

 HIV can be prevented by abstinence (no sex at all) (Y)

0.12

 HIV can be prevented by no casual sex (Y)

–

 HIV can be prevented by no commercial sex (Y)

–

 HIV can be prevented by having fewer partners (Y)

–

Summed knowledge (higher = more items correct)

 Cervical cancer screening factors (0–12), mean (SD)

0.05

 HIV transmission factors (0–12), mean (SD)

0.32

 HIV prevention factors (0–9), mean (SD)

0.20