Evaluation of Cervical Cancer Screening Program at a Rural Community of South Africa

Objective: Cervical cancer is a leading cause of deaths among women worldwide. But the condition is preventable through regular screening of women those are 'at risk' for abnormal changes in the cervix and treating them who have positive results. Although screening facilities are available in South Africa; the incidence and mortality from cervical cancer remains very high and many women present health facilities with late stage diseases. Purpose of the study is to determine the baseline information on knowledge and practices on risk factors for cervical cancer and Pap smear and to design an intervention to improve Pap smear uptake. Methods: A cross-sectional population based descriptive study was undertaken at a rural community of South Africa targeting women 30 years and over. The assessment was performed by means of a questionnaire survey. Outcome measures were percentage of women with the knowledge on risk factors for cervical cancer and use of Pap smear test and had undertaken Pap smear test. Binary logistic regression analysis was carried out to identify possible predictors of Pap smear test undertaken. A total of 611 women (random samples) were recruited from the selected households. Results: The mean age of the sample was 43 years and 54of them had no education. Only 6knew all and 65knew any one of the risk factors of cervical cancer whereas less than half (49) of them knew that Pap smear is used for prevention of cervical cancer. Only 43respondents received information on Pap smear from health care workers. Among all the respondents only 18(95CI; 15-21) had ever done Pap smear test. Conclusions: This study showed low uptake of Pap smear test and low level of knowledge on prevention of cervical cancer and risk factors thus warrants urgent extensive health education program for this rural communities

Injury Profile in KwaZulu-Natal; South Africa: Implications for Prevention

Background: Prevention and control of injuries require generating relevant information on the magnitude; characteristics and determinants of injuries. Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the characteristics of injuries and predict the severity of injury with other variables. Design: A cross - sectional descriptive study was conducted at the hospitals of KwaZulu - Natal. Information was gathered from a total of 428 injured patients randomly selected from hospital attendances. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the risk factors for severity of injury. Results: Over 60of injury victims were below the age of 30 years. The economically active group (21 - 60 years) also constituted about 60of injury victims. Over half of the victims reported that the scene of incidence was private house; yard and road. One fifth was transport related injury whereas majority was violence (50). Unintentional injury was 28.8. Most of the injuries were minor (42.3) to moderate (41.1) in severity. Odds Ratio for alcohol related violence was 11. Conclusion: In order to reduce injuries appropriate multisectoral interventions; broader policies and strategies; regulating transport and alcohol use; routine testing of alcohol to identify the problem-drinkers for rehabilitation. Interventions should also include health education and health promotion and law enforcement