Abstract
This descriptive-correlational study was conducted to determine the level of cervical cancer awareness of
196 participants who were conveniently recruited from selected regions in South Cimahi, Melong, West Java,
Indonesia. The survey was conducted on February 2014 for fifteen (15) days using a survey questionnaire
for data collection. Descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentage distribution were used for
demographic profile and weighted mean for the assessment of the level of awareness on cervical cancer, and
inferential statistics such as Pearson r and chi square for hypothesis testing. They have moderate awareness
on basic information on cervical cancer, foremost are the areas on prevention, anatomy, treatment and common
diagnostic examination, but with very little knowledge or partial awareness on the items pertaining to signs
and symptoms, etiology and mode of transmission of cervical cancer. The results of chi square and pearson r
tests found that the participants’ gender and educational attainment were not significantly correlated with their
level of awareness on cervical cancer while, family monthly income was significantly correlated to their level
of awareness. Hence, this study concluded that gender and educational attainment do not necessarily determine
a person’s level of awareness or knowledge but family income could contribute to their level of awareness.
The study findings formed the basis of designing an information dissemination campaign material on cervical
cancer among the residents of South Cimahi, Indonesia. In this regard, an intensive information dissemination
campaign program on cervical cancer is recommended using the proposed campaign material designed.
Abstrak
Penelitian deskriptif-korelasional ini dilakukan untuk mengetahui tingkat kesadaran 196 peserta yang nyaman
direkrut dari daerah tertentu di Cimahi Selatan, Melong, Jawa Barat, Indonesia. Pengumpulan data menggunakan
kuesioner. Statistik deskriptif digunakan untuk profil demografis dan rata-rata untuk penilaian tingkat kesadaran
mengenai kanker serviks, dan statistik inferensi seperti Pearson r dan Chi square untuk pengujian hipotesis.
Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa responden memiliki kesadaran moderat pada informasi dasar tentang
kanker serviks, terutama adalah daerah tentang pencegahan, anatomi, pengobatan dan pemeriksaan diagnostik
umum, tetapi dengan sedikit pengetahuan atau kesadaran parsial pada item yang berkaitan dengan tanda-
tanda dan gejala, etiologi dan cara penularan kanker serviks. Kemudian ditunjukkan bahwa gender dan
pendidikan pencapaian peserta tidak signifikan berkorelasi dengan tingkat kesadaran pada saat kanker
serviks, pendapatan bulanan keluarga secara signifikan berhubungan dengan tingkat kesadaran. Penelitian
ini menyimpulkan bahwa gender dan pencapaian pendidikan tidak selalu menentukan tingkat kesadaran
seseorang atau pengetahuan tetapi pendapatan keluarga dapat memberikan kontribusi untuk tingkat kesadaran.
opinions and attitudes or behaviors as they West Java Indonesia. The researcher has
currently exist in a target population (Keele, received and granted permission from both
2010 cited in Valdez, 2013). institutions coursed through Melong’s Public
The correlation design was used to examine Health Center, to distribute questionnaires to
the relationships between demographic profile the regions as mentioned in the letter.
variables and level of awareness on cervical Table 1 shows the demographic profile of
cancer of participants in selected villages in the participants such as gender, educational
Melong, Cimahi, Indonesia. Construction. level and family monthly income.
The main tool for data collection was a survey In this study, male and female genders were
questionnaire, developed by the researcher equally represented, at 50% each. Men were
based on the various related literature and included in this study to get them involved
similar studies on cervical cancer. in the prevention of cervical cancer. This is
The questionnaire was pilot tested to supported by the study of Meutia (2014),
fifteen (15) residents of Melong who were although cervical cancer occurs only in
not part of the study for further validation. women, men's behavior is instrumental in its
The questions used in this study were reliable spread.
according to the result of the analysis using In terms of educational attainment, data
Pearson r . The obtained value of Alpha showed that majority (51 %) of them had
Cronbach is 0.989 > r 0.6 is constant making reached junior high school, followed by
the questions used in this study as reliable. senior high school graduates with 33% and
A formal written permission was obtained only 1% reached university level. This finding
from the head of the Unity of the Nation and may indicate that the participants were not
to the head of Cimahi Health Department, interested in obtaining higher educational
attainment. The low level of education This study findings found that most of
could affect the level of their awareness on the participants belonged to the low-income
cervical cancer. Peckenpaugh (2009) pointed stratum. The data could be attributed to the
out that the increase in cases of cancer is participants’ low educational attainment
related to educational, demographic changes which could result to low paying jobs.
and psychosocial factors. Likewise, women Low socio-economic status is a factor in
with more education demonstrate greater the occurrence of cervical cancer (Ricci
knowledge (Xu, Zhang, Wu and Zhang , & Kyle, 2009) and socioeconomic level
2011). affects an individual's ability to pay health
In terms of family monthly income, care activities and health promotion. Often,
54% of the couples’ income ranged from limited funds and resources available to
R500,000-1,500,000 rupiah (Php 1,852.00 access needed services. People may delay
to Php 5,555.00) while as only 1% of had seeking treatment or information due to a
a combined monthly income of R3,501.000 lack of money (Maville, 2013).
(Php 12,964.00).
Table 2 Level Awareness on Cervical Cancer
Indicators Mean Level Descriptive index
Do you know that…..
A. Anatomy
1. the cervix is in female reproductive system 1.78 Moderately aware
2. the cervix is cylinder-shaped neck tissue that connects 1.61 Moderately aware
the uterus and the vagina
Sub mean
B. Etiology/Risk factor
3. cervical ca ncer is a cancer of uterine cervix 1.85 Moderately aware
The data revealed that couples have acquired on the prevention of cervical cancer
fundamental knowledge on the different and the reproductive system’s anatomy
areas about cervical cancer on the average. as well as ways of treatment were learned
The highest rating was reflected on the area from school and from other literatures such
of prevention (SM= 1.71). The ratings for as a magazines and other reading materials.
all the indicators in this area ranged from According to the Cancer Foundation of
1.64 to 1.79 indicated that they possessed Indonesia (2011), information about cervical
an average knowledge on prevention of cancer were contained in leaflets, flip books,
cervical cancer. Likewise, the ratings on the slides and basic information from lectures on
areas of anatomy and treatment reflected radio, television, print media and seminars.
almost similar level of awareness, which was On the other hand, the areas on signs and
moderate or have knowledge on the average. symptoms, etiology and mode of transmission
The could mean that the knowledge they obtained the lowest mean ratings 121, 134
Critical Computed
Variables Df X2 Value X2 Value Interpretation Decision
(α=.05)
1. Gender and level of 3 7.815 .373 Not Significant Accept Ho
awareness
2.Educational Attainment and 9 16.919 14.804 Not significant Accept Ho
level of awareness
3.Family monthly income and 194 Critical rxy Computed rxy Significant Reject Ho
level of awareness Value (α = .05) Value
‘073 .194
symptoms and etiology, which obtained the knowledgeable on cervical cancer compared
two lowest rating, signified that they have to those with lower education.
little or were only partly aware about the Pearson r test was done to test the
signs and symptoms and etiology of cervical significant relationship between family
cancer. The knowledge that supports disease monthly income and level of cervical cancer
prevention and raising awareness on cervical awareness. Alpha level 0.05 and .194 degrees
cancer is the goal of health promotion. of freedom were used, with critical value of
Table 4 shows the results on the significant .073, which is less than the computed value
relationship between the participants’ selected of 194, showed that there is a significant
profile variables and their level of awareness relationship between family income and level
on cervical cancer. Pearson r and chi square of awareness. Therefore, the null hypothesis
were used to test if there is a correlative is rejected.
significance between gender, educational This means that family monthly income
attainment and family monthly income to the may affect the level of awareness or
participants’ level of awareness on cervical knowledge of participants on cervical cancer.
cancer. The low monthly income of the participants
The result of Chi square test to measure the could have contributed to their moderate level
significant relationship between gender and of awareness on most of the indicators and
level of cervical cancer awareness showed very little knowledge on etiology and signs
the alpha level 0.05 with df of 3; the critical and symptoms of cervical cancer. In contrast,
value of 7.815 is greater than the computed t the study findings of De Guzman (2012),
of 0.373, interpreted as not significant. showed that the monthly income have little
Likewise, the results of chi square test effect on the awareness of cervical cancer .
between educational level and the level of
awareness at alpha level 0.05 with df of 9,
the critical value of 16.919, is greater than Summary
computed t value 14.804, interpreted as not 1. Demographic Profile of Participants
significant. Therefore the null hypothesis on In this study, both male and female participants
these variables is accepted. were equally represented at 50% each;
The findings revealed that genders as well majority of them or 51% had reached junior
as educational level of the participants and high school and mostly belonged to the low-
their level of awareness are not significantly income bracket with only about R500,000 to
correlated. This means that gender and R1,500,000 or roughly about Php 1,852.00 to
educational attainment do not determine a Php 5,556.00 combined family income.
person’s knowledge or awareness on cervical
cancer. With regards to gender, this study 2. Level of Awareness level on Cervical
finding is contrary to the study findings of Cancer
Ruth, Ekowati, and Kristanto (2013), that The participants of this study have obtained
men's awareness about cervical cancer is an over- all mean of 1.51, which is described
lower than adult women. Hawks (2009) as “moderately aware”. They have an average
cited in Maville (2013), further emphasized knowledge or moderate awareness on basic
that men’s awareness about cervical cancer is information on cervical cancer
lower compared to women because women
avail of the health care system more often 3. Significant Relationship Between
than men because of the nature of women as Demographic Profile and Level of Awareness
reproductive and child rearing. on Cervical Cancer
As for the participants’ educational The results of Chi square and pearson r tests
attainment, it is noteworthy that although revealed that the participants’ gender and
most of the participants only reached junior educational attainment were not significantly
high school, they were able to acquire correlated with their level of awareness
an average knowledge or moderate level on cervical cancer. Both men and women
of awareness on cervical cancer. Highly and those with high school diploma and
educated individuals are not necessarily college degree have the same moderate
level of awareness on cervical cancer. On based on the findings of this study. The comic-
the other hand, family monthly income was type campaign material can be given out to
significantly correlated to the participants’ the residents by public health personnel and
level of awareness. allied health students such as midwifery and
nursing students during community outreach
activities.
Conclusions 3. Intensive public cervical cancer
Based on the findings of this study, the detection examinations should be initiated by
following conclusions are drawn : the local government utilizing public health
1. Gender and educational attainment centers and be made available to all female
do not necessarily determine a person’s level residents of Melong, Indonesia.
of awareness or knowledge. 4. For further studies, it is recommended
2. Family income contributes to the that similar topics, such as :
participants’ acquisition of knowledge on 4.1 follow up study utilizing the same
cervical cancer. research locales to determine whether the
3. Since gender and educational level of public awareness relative to cervical
attainment have no significant relationship cancer has significanly improved; and
with participants’ level of awareness, thus, 4.2. qualitative researches like case study or
the null hypothesis is accepted. But the ethno- phenomological study focusing on the
null hypothesis with regards to family norms and traditions of the existing culture of
monthly income, which showed significant Muslim women.
relationship to level of awareness, is rejected.
4. The dissemination of information use
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