IMPACT OF VISUAL INSPECTION WITH ACETIC ACID TEST AND CERVICAL CANCER RELATED AWARENESS PROGRAMME ON THE HEALTH BEHAVIOUR OF WOMEN FROM NORTH BENGAL, INDIA.

Background And Objective: There is a lack of awareness regarding cervical cancer and its prevalence. We estimated the prevalence of cervical cancer in women who tested positive for visual inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) and assessed the efcacy of awareness spread through planned teaching programmes on prevention strategies for cervical cancer. A descriptive Methodology: survey study followed by one group pre-test and a post-test research study conducted on women > 30 years attending wellness clinics in six subcentres in West Bengal. Socio-demographic variables and responses to knowledge-based questions on healthcare measures for preventing cervical cancer were recorded using a standard questionnaire. A standardized observational checklist was used to document the observations on cervical changes. The women who attended the awareness programme were interviewed on post-test knowledge regarding health behaviour in preventing cervical cancer. Results: The majority (80%) of women had no cervical changes through VIA, and 20% of women had cervical changes through VIA. The mean post-test score of 15.9±2.8was higher than the mean pre-test score of 10.2±3.5, indicating that the awareness programme was effective(p<0.001). Only nine (7.5%) women had an excellent level of knowledge in pre-test and post-test; it increased to 69 (57.5%) women. There is a signicant change in women's knowledge regarding their health behaviours towards preventing cervical cancer after attending the awareness programme. Conclusion: The knowledge of women on health behaviours regarding cervical cancer prevention is inadequate. Healthcare awareness programs effectively increase women's knowledge regarding health behaviour to prevent cervical cancer.