Prostate and cervical
cancers rate highest among the
malignancies found in Jamaican
adults in the Kingston and St. Andrew region. A Behaviour
Risk Factor Survey in 1993 found that 40 percent of
women aged 15-49 had never had a
Pap smear ; anecdotal information suggests that not many
adult males utilize available
screening services. A cross-sectional investigation was conducted from January to February 1999 among a random sample of selected
Primary Care workers attached to the Kingston and St. Andrew
Health Department for the purpose of elucidating their
knowledge ,
attitude ,
beliefs and practices concerning these two
cancers . The study used a
self -administered
questionnaire and was carried out from January to February 1999. Area of focus included
risk factors and
screening tests for the two
cancers , the personal practices of the
workers and their
attitude towards
cancer .
Qualitative research involving two groups of
Primary Care workers was also done.
Knowledge of
cervical cancer and its
screening was generally high among all categories of
workers .
Knowledge of
prostate cancer was lower than that of the
cervix with significant differences existing between the categories of staff (p < 0.05). The majority of
female workers had high levels of personal
screening (by Pap smears) and generally fell within the recommendation of National and Regional guidelines,
Screening practices were frequent for all categories of
male workers . The
workers generally had good
attitudes . There is no need for development of guidelines to assist the
health providers in their advice to
male clients . Evaluation of the
methods currently used by
Primary Care workers to encourage
screening may strengthen their capability and
effectiveness in reproductive
cancer screening .(Au)