Behavioural Intention Towards Cervical Cancer Screening Uptake in Workplace
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Abstract
Cervical cancer ranks third in Malaysia, with 47.3% undergoing Pap tests due to low awareness. Leveraging the workplace, housing over 50% of the global female workforce, can enhance health promotion and early diagnosis. This study aims to determine the prevalence of cervical cancer screening uptake and factors affecting behavioral intention towards cervical cancer screening among employed women affiliated to a public university in Sarawak. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2022 and August 2023 among employed women affiliated to a public university in Sarawak. Data were collected through a pretested and validated self-administered questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 29. Results: The study sample comprised 320 participants, primarily of Malay ethnicity, married, and with at least secondary level of education. Only 18.7% reported regular cervical cancer screening, with a substantial proportion of individuals never having undergone the screening test. 25.1% of the participants demonstrated satisfactory knowledge of cervical cancer, while 7.8% exhibited adequate knowledge regarding cervical cancer screening. Importantly, only 40% expressed an intention to undergo screening. Factors significantly associated with screening intention were educational level (AOR = 2.213, 95% CI = 0.272, 0.751, p = 0.002) and low perceived barriers to screening (p = < 0.001). Conclusion: The study underscores the alarmingly low prevalence of cervical cancer screening among working women in one of public university in Sarawak, with factors such as educational level, occupation, and perceived barriers significantly influencing screening intention.
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