Cervical cancer screening among Lebanese women
Citation
Bou-Orm, I.R., Sakr, R.E. and Adib, S.M. (2018) ‘Cervical cancer screening among Lebanese women’, Revue d’Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique, 66(1), pp. 1–6. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respe.2017.10.004.
Abstract
Background
Cervical cancer is a very common malignancy amongst women worldwide. Pap smear is an effective and inexpensive screening test in asymptomatic women. The aim of this paper was to assess the prevalence of Pap smear screening for cervical cancer among Lebanese women and to determine associated sociodemographic and psychosocial characteristics.
Methods
This national survey included 2255 women, selected by multi-stage random cluster sampling across Lebanon. A questionnaire about practices and perceptions related to cervical cancer screening was developed based on the “Health Belief Model”.
Results
The weighted national prevalence of “ever-use” of the Pap smear for screening purposes was 35%. Most important determinants of screening behavior were: residence within Greater Beirut, higher socio-economic status and educational attainment, marriage status, presence of a health coverage, awareness of Pap smear usefulness, knowing someone who had already done it, and a balance between perceived benefits and perceived barriers to Pap smear screening.
Conclusion
Regular information campaigns regarding the availability and effectiveness of the test should be devised, targeting in priority the sexually vulnerable women in Lebanon. Moreover, healthcare providers should be encouraged to discuss with their patients the opportunity of obtaining a Pap smear.