Abstract:
Cervical cancer is a malignant tumour that arises in the uterine cervix, which has been identified as
the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women around the world including Sri-Lanka. A
sexually contagious pathogen, the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), is often accountable as the
aetiology. Having multiple sexual encounters, engagement in risky sexual behaviour, including
the usage of oral contraceptives and possessing a compromised immune system, are considered risk
factors. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate and ascertain the current level of
awareness towards cervical cancer risk factors among the women in Gampaha district Sri-Lanka.
Method includes a descriptive, cross-sectional study that was conducted on 150 women aged between
18 -50 years.Convenience sampling method was used. Data was collected using a closed-ended, self-
administered online questionnaire. Microsoft Excel and SPSS version 25 was used as the analysis
tools in the study. The study results put forth that out of the total, 84% of the participants were aware
of cervical cancer while 16% were not. A minority (5.4%) belived that there is no method for early
detection of cervical cancer. Most of the study participants (56%) were aware of the risk factors of
cervical cancer.Among the 56% of the study subjects, 76% of the women identified unsafe sexual
practices as one of the major risk factors. Some respondents further belived that avoiding the practice
of smoking (2.7%) and unsafe sexual practices (10.7%), obtaining the HPV vaccination (32.7%) and
conducting Pap smear test regularly (19.3%) could greatly reduce the chance of the developing
cervical cancer and increases the chance of early detection and treatment. In Conclusion, even though
the majority of the women were aware of the cervical cancer and their associated risk factors,further
research studies and awareness programs should be conducted in the community to provide further
information on the risk factors, disease prognosis and severity, enabling women to take the necessary
precautions in the future.
Keywords: Awareness; Cervical cancer; Risk factors; Sri Lanka; Women.
