Knowledge, attitude practice in pap screening among the women attending the gynaecological out patient department and female attendant accompanying them

Worldwide, cervical cancer is both the fourth-most common cause of cancer and the fourth-most common cause of death from cancer in women. It is due to the abnormal growth of ((cells that have the ability to invade or spread to other parts of the body. Human papillomavirus infection (HPV) causes more than 90% of cases. Cervical cancer typically develops from precancerous changes over 10 to 20 years. About 90% of cervical cancer cases are squamous cell carcinomas, 10% are adenocarcinoma, and a small number are other types. Diagnosis is typically by cervical screening followed by a biopsy. Medical imaging is then done to determine whether or not the cancer has spread. The aim is to assess Knowledge, attitude and practice in PAP screening among the women attending gynaecological outpatient department and female attendant accompanying them.80% of women do not have access to screening, treatment, and prevention programs related to cervical cancer as a result of which cervical cancer is the third largest cause of Cancer mortality in India. The primary reason for late stage diagnosis of disease lack of awareness about screening and preventive methods of cervical cancer. The various obstacles to screen cervical cancer includes lack of awareness and misconception about female cancers, socio-economic limitations and lack of information regarding knowledge attitude and practice towards cervical cancer screening and hence this study was conducted with a aim to assess knowledge attitude and practice in Pap screening among women attending gynaecological outpatient department in Saveetha Medical College and Hospital the objective of this study is to provide information regarding current awareness about cervical cancer which is helpful to decide educational program and to overcome barriers associated for knowledge enhancement about cervical cancer and its screening.