A cross-sectional study to assess knowledge of women about cervical cancer: an urban and rural comparison

Abstract Introduction Cervical cancer and its etiopathogenesis, the age of women in whom it is diagnosed, average life expectancy, and prognosis are information widely covered in scientific reports. However, there is no coherent information regarding which regions—urban or rural—it may occur more often. This is important because the literature on the subject reports that people living in rural areas have a worse prognosis when it comes to detection, treatment, and life expectancy than city dwellers. Material and methods The subjects of the study were women and their knowledge about cervical cancer. The research was carried out using a survey directly distributed among respondents and via the Internet, portals, and discussion groups for women from Poland. Three hundred twenty-nine women took part in the study, including 164 from rural and 165 from urban areas. The collected data enabled the following: (1) an analysis of the studied groups, (2) assessment of the respondents’ knowledge about cervical cancer, and (3) comparison of women’s knowledge depending on where they live. Results The average assessment of all respondents’ knowledge was 3.59, with women living in rural areas scoring 3.18 and respondents from the city—4.01. Statistical significance (p < 0.001) between the level of knowledge and place of residence was determined. The results indicate that an increase in the level of education in the subjects significantly increases the chance of getting the correct answer. In the case of age analysis, the coefficients indicate a decrease in the chance of obtaining the correct answer in older subjects despite the fact that a statistically significant level was reached in individual questions. Conclusions Women living in rural areas have less knowledge of cervical cancer than female respondents from the city. There is a need for more awareness campaigns to provide comprehensive information about cervical cancer to women in rural areas. A holistic approach to the presented issue can solve existing difficulties and barriers to maintaining health regardless of the place of life and residence. Implication for cancer survivors They need intensive care for women’s groups most burdened with risk factors.

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Self-rated health and indicators of SES among the ageing in three types of communities

Scandinavian Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1080/14034940600813206 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 35 (1) ◽

pp. 39-47 ◽

Cited By ~ 42

Author(s):

Olli P. Nummela ◽

Tommi T. Sulander ◽

Heikki S. Heinonen ◽

Antti K. Uutela

Keyword(s):

Rural Areas ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Community Intervention ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Age Groups ◽

Subjective Health ◽

Birth Cohorts ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Men And Women ◽

Self Rated Health

Aims: This paper examines associations between self-rated health, three indicators of SES (self-reported education, disposable household income, adequacy of income) and three types of communities (urban, densely or sparsely populated rural areas) among ageing men and women in the Province of Päijät-Häme, Southern Finland. There is a lack of knowledge regarding the magnitude of community type when examining the relation between subjective health and SES. Methods: Cross-sectional questionnaire data gathered in the spring of 2002 for a prospective follow-up of community interventions were used. These data, together with a number of clinical and laboratory measurements, yielded the baseline for a 10-year community intervention study. A representative stratified (age, gender, area) sample of men and women living in the province and belonging to the birth cohorts 1926—1930, 1936—1940, and 1946—1950 was obtained from the National Population Registry. The target sample was 4,272, with 2,815 persons responding (66% response rate). Results: Positive associations between indicators of SES and self-rated health were observed in all three community types. After adjusting for other factors, adequacy of income showed the strongest (positive) association with self-rated health in urban areas in all age groups. A similar pattern of associations, with varying statistical significance, though, was found in the two rural areas. Conclusions: This study supports the view that while actual income is positively correlated to health, adequacy of income is an even stronger predictor of it. Thus, there was a significant link between better financial standing and good health among ageing people, especially in urban areas.

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High Proportion of School Aged Children Susceptible to Mumps Virus Infections in the City of Mwanza, Tanzania: Should It be Included in the National Immunization Programme?

International Journal of TROPICAL DISEASE & Health ◽

10.9734/ijtdh/2020/v41i1530357 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 46-55

Author(s):

Ruth B. Rakiru ◽

Delfina R. Msanga ◽

Rose Laisser ◽

Doreen Kamori ◽

Mtebe Majigo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rural Areas ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Significant Proportion ◽

Mumps Virus ◽

Control Measures ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Multivariable Logistic Regression Analysis ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

School Aged Children ◽

The City

Aim: This study for the first time in Mwanza, Tanzania aimed at determining seropositivity of mumps virus in school aged children who are targeted for vaccination. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of the Study: This study was conducted in the city of Mwanza from July to September 2018. Despite being common with reported associated complications in many resource limited countries, there is scarcity of information on its epidemiology in Tanzania. Methodology: We enrolled 440 school children aged 6-12 years. Data was collected using a pre-tested structured data collection tool. Blood samples were collected, and sera were used for detection of mumps virus antibodies by indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Data was analyzed using STATA version 13, 2013. Results: The median age of enrolled children was 9(IQR: 8-11) years. The seropositivity of mumps IgG antibodies was found to be 94(21.4%, 95% CI: 17.5-25.1) while that of IgM was 1 (0.23%, 95% CI: 0.02-0.6). By multivariable logistic regression analysis, residing in rural areas (OR: 2.28, 95% 1.42-3.36, P=0.001) and age >10 years (OR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.03-2.7, P=0.036) independently predicted mumps IgG seropositivity. Conclusion: A significant proportion of young children in urban areas of the city of Mwanza are susceptible to mumps virus infection indicating the need to generate more data across the country so as to institute appropriate control measures including measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination programme.

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Implementation of secondary preventive practice important for cervical cancer among women who use oral contraception

Archive of oncology ◽

10.2298/aoo1304091a ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 21 (3-4) ◽

pp. 91-96

Author(s):

Ljiljana Antic ◽

Dejana Vukovic ◽

Bosiljka Ðikanovic ◽

Dragan Antic ◽

Slavisa Jankovic ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cervical Cancer ◽

Multivariate Analysis ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Preventive Measures ◽

Population Sample ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

National Health Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Nationally Representative

Background: In the course of the previous 50 years, demographic trends in Serbia have been quite unfavorable and there is the epidemiological transition. The aim of the study was to examine the factors that influence women's decision to take oral contraceptives (OC) and to examine preventive measures for the cervical cancer. Method: We analyzed data that were collected in a cross-sectional study National Health Survey in Serbia in 2006, which was based on a nationally representative population sample. Our subsample included 2,378 women aged from 20 to 49 years. Results: The results of this multivariate analysis confirmed the association of the OC usage with socio-demographic factors, such as marital status and region of living. Respondents from Vojvodina took OC more often than those from Belgrade (OR= 0.48, 95% CI, 0.30-0.78) and Central Serbia (OR=0.42, 95% CI 0.29-0.61). The results of adjusted multivariate analysis showed that the level of education, place of living, and region were significantly associated with secondary preventive measures for the cervical cancer (regular check-ups and Pap tests). Secondary preventive measures are more frequently used among less educated participants who live in the urban areas and in the region of Vojvodina, compared to the more educated women from rural areas and living in the capital Belgrade. Conclusion: Our study did not confirm association of OC usage with secondary preventive measures for the cervical cancer.

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Knowledge and intake of folic acid to prevent neural tube defects among pregnant women in urban China: a cross-sectional study

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth ◽

10.1186/s12884-021-03893-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mingming Cui ◽

Xiao-Lin Lu ◽

Yan-Yu Lyu ◽

Fang Wang ◽

Xiao-Lu Xie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Folic Acid ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Neural Tube ◽

Neural Tube Defects ◽

Rural Women ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Unplanned Pregnancy ◽

Urban China ◽

Cross Sectional

Abstract Background The prevalence of neural tube defects (NTDs) in China declined during 2000–2017 with periconceptional folic acid (FA) supplementation, which is effective in reducing the risk of birth defects. We aimed to assess the knowledge and actual use of FA among Chinese pregnant women and to explore factors associated with FA use before pregnancy. Methods All data were collected in face-to-face interviews during health visits among pregnant women. We collected information about knowledge and use of FA supplements and demographic, socioeconomic, and health status. One maternity and childcare hospital was chosen in each of four cities: Beijing, Huaibei, Kunming, and Haikou. In total, 435 pregnant women were randomly recruited for interviews conducted from June to December 2016. Results A total of 428 pregnant women were included in this survey. Of these, 82.0% (351/428) knew that FA can prevent NTDs, and 75.9% (325/428) knew the correct time to take FA. Overall, 65.9% (282/428) of women knew both that FA can prevent NTDs and the recommended time to take FA before pregnancy. Approximately 95.1% (407/428) of women reported having ever taken FA, only 46.3% (198/428) had begun to take FA supplementation before conception, and 64.5% (109/169) of women from rural areas failed to take FA before pregnancy. Women living in northern China (odds ratio [OR] = 1.81, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.18–2.77), those with unplanned pregnancy (OR = 1.99, 95% CI 1.30–3.04), and highly educated women (OR = 2.37, 95% CI 1.45–3.88) were more likely to know about FA. Women who were homemakers (OR = 1.94, 95% CI 1.21–3.11) and had unplanned pregnancy (OR = 6.18, 95% CI 4.01–9.53) were less likely to begin taking FA before pregnancy. Conclusions Our survey showed that most pregnant women knew about FA. Although preconception intake of FA can help to reduce NTDs, improving the rate of FA intake before pregnancy is needed in urban areas of China, especially among homemakers and women from rural areas or with unplanned pregnancy. Campaigns are needed to increase awareness about FA and FA use before pregnancy among rural women, homemakers, and those with unplanned pregnancy and lower education levels.

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Rural–Urban Differences in the Factors Affecting Depressive Symptoms among Older Adults of Two Regions in Myanmar

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18062818 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (6) ◽

pp. 2818

Author(s):

Yuri Sasaki ◽

Yugo Shobugawa ◽

Ikuma Nozaki ◽

Daisuke Takagi ◽

Yuiko Nagamine ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Middle School ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Wealth Index ◽

School Level ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Middle School Level

The aim of the study was to investigate rural–urban differences in depressive symptoms in terms of the risk factors among older adults of two regions in Myanmar to provide appropriate intervention for depression depending on local characteristics. This cross-sectional study, conducted between September and December, 2018, used a multistage sampling method to recruit participants from the two regions, for face-to-face interviews. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 15-item version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Depressive symptoms were positively associated with living in rural areas (B = 0.42; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.12,0.72), female (B = 0.55; 95% CI: 0.31,0.79), illness during the preceding year (B = 0.68; 95% CI: 0.45,0.91) and non-Buddhist religion (B = 0.57; 95% CI: 0.001,1.15) and protectively associated with education to middle school level or higher (B = −0.61; 95% CI: −0.94, −0.28) and the frequency of visits to religious facilities (B = −0.20; 95% CI: −0.30, −0.10). In women in urban areas, depressive symptoms were positively associated with illness during the preceding year (B = 0.78; 95% CI: 0.36, 1.20) and protectively associated with education to middle school level or higher (B = −0.67; 95% CI: −1.23, −0.11), middle or high wealth index (B = −0.92; 95% CI: −1.59, −0.25) and the frequency of visits to religious facilities (B = −0.20; 95% CI: −0.38, −0.03). In men in rural areas, illness during the preceding year was positively associated with depressive symptoms (B = 0.87; 95% CI: 0.33, 1.42). In women in rural areas, depressive symptoms were positively associated with illness during the preceding year (B = 0.83; 95% CI: 0.36, 1.30) and protectively associated with primary education (B = −0.62; 95% CI: −1.12, −0.12) and the frequency of visits to religious facilities (B = −0.44; 95% CI: −0.68, −0.21). Religion and wealth could have different levels of association with depression between older adults in the urban and rural areas and men and women. Interventions for depression in older adults should consider regional and gender differences in the roles of religion and wealth in Myanmar.

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A comparative study of chest CT findings regarding the effects of regional dust exposure on patients with COPD living in urban areas and rural areas near cement plants

Respiratory Research ◽

10.1186/s12931-021-01649-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Junghyun Kim ◽

Bom Kim ◽

So Hyeon Bak ◽

Yeon-Mok Oh ◽

Woo Jin Kim

Keyword(s):

Sex Education ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Smoking Status ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Dust Exposure ◽

Chronic Obstructive ◽

Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽

Wall Area ◽

Copd Patients

Abstract Background The clinical and radiological presentation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is heterogenous depending on the characterized sources of inflammation. This study aimed to evaluate COPD phenotypes associated with specific dust exposure. Methods This study was designed to compare the characteristics, clinical outcomes and radiological findings between two prospective COPD cohorts representing two distinguishing regions in the Republic of Korea; COPD in Dusty Area (CODA) and the Korean Obstructive Lung Disease (KOLD) cohort. A total of 733 participants (n = 186 for CODA, and n = 547 for KOLD) were included finally. A multivariate analysis to compare lung function and computed tomography (CT) measurements of both cohort studies after adjusting for age, sex, education, body mass index, smoking status, and pack-year, Charlson comorbidity index, and frequency of exacerbation were performed by entering the level of FEV1(%), biomass exposure and COPD medication into the model in stepwise. Results The mean wall area (MWA, %) became significantly lower in COPD patients in KOLD from urban and metropolitan area than those in CODA cohort from cement dust area (mean ± standard deviation [SD]; 70.2 ± 1.21% in CODA vs. 66.8 ± 0.88% in KOLD, p = 0.028) after including FEV1 in the model. COPD subjects in KOLD cohort had higher CT-emphysema index (EI, 6.07 ± 3.06 in CODA vs. 20.0 ± 2.21 in KOLD, p < 0.001, respectively). The difference in the EI (%) was consistently significant even after further adjustment of FEV1 (6.12 ± 2.88% in CODA vs. 17.3 ± 2.10% in KOLD, p = 0.002, respectively). However, there was no difference in the ratio of mean lung density (MLD) between the two cohorts (p = 0.077). Additional adjustment for biomass parameters and medication for COPD did not alter the statistical significance after entering into the analysis with COPD medication. Conclusions Higher MWA and lower EI were observed in COPD patients from the region with dust exposure. These results suggest that the imaging phenotype of COPD is influenced by specific environmental exposure.

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Urinary Concentrations of Metals and Metalloids in Malaysian Adults

Exposure and Health ◽

10.1007/s12403-021-00390-z ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Zurahanim Fasha Anual ◽

Noraishah Mohammad Sham ◽

Rashidah Ambak ◽

Fatimah Othman ◽

Rafiza Shaharudin

Keyword(s):

Rural Areas ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽

Geometric Mean ◽

Urine Samples ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Metals And Metalloids ◽

High Exposure ◽

Academic Qualification ◽

Metal Levels

AbstractExposure to environmental pollutants in humans can be conducted through direct measurement of biological media such as blood, urine or hair. Assessment studies of metals and metalloids in Malaysia is very scarce although cross-sectional nationwide human biomonitoring surveys have been established by the USA, Canada, Germany, Spain, France, and Korea. This study aims to assess urinary metal levels namely cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and arsenic (As) among Malaysian adults. This was a cross-sectional study involving 1440 adults between the age of 18 and 88 years old. After excluding those with 24 h urine samples of less than 500 ml, urine creatinine levels < 0.3 or > 3.0 g/L and those who refuse to participate in the study, a total of 817 respondents were included for analysis. A questionnaire with socio-demographic information such as age, gender, occupation, ethnic, academic qualification and medical history was administered to the respondents. Twenty-four-hour urine samples were collected in a container before being transported at 4 °C to the laboratory. Samples were then aliquoted into 15 ml tubes and kept at − 80 °C until further analysis. Urine was diluted ten-fold with ultrapure water, filtered and analysed for metals and metalloids using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The geometric mean of urinary As, Ni, Cd and Pb concentrations among adults in Malaysia was 48.21, 4.37, 0.32, and 0.80 µg/L, respectively. Males showed significantly higher urinary metal concentrations compared to females for As, Cd and Pb except for Ni. Those who resided in rural areas exhibited significantly higher As, Cd and Pb urinary concentrations than those who resided in urban areas. As there are no nationwide data on urinary metals, findings from this study could be used to identify high exposure groups, thus enabling policy makers to improve public health strategically.

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Factors associated with the intention to undergo Pap smear testing in the rural areas of Indonesia: a health belief model

Reproductive Health ◽

10.1186/s12978-021-01188-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sumarmi Sumarmi ◽

Yu-Yun Hsu ◽

Ya-Min Cheng ◽

Shu-Hsin Lee

Keyword(s):

Cervical Cancer ◽

Health Beliefs ◽

Rural Women ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Pap Smear ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Health Belief ◽

Pap Smear Test ◽

Smear Test ◽

Smear Testing

Abstract Purposes This study aimed to understand the influence of health beliefs, demographic factors, and health characteristics on the intention to undergo Pap smear testing among women in rural areas of Indonesia. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted and 687 married women participated in the study. A convenience sampling was applied to recruit the participants from community health centres in a rural region in Indonesia. Self-reported data using the Health Beliefs Model Scale for Cervical Cancer and Pap Smear Test was collected to assess the health beliefs. Independent t-tests, simple logistic regressions, and a hierarchical logistic regression with 3 steps were run. Statistical significance for analysis was set at p < 0.05. Results The mean age of the participants was 42 years (SD = 8.4). Among the participants, 81% of the women had never undergone a Pap smear test, and 61% (n = 422) of the women reported a high intention of receiving a Pap smear test. Income and education Health beliefs regarding Pap smear testing were different between women who had low and high intentions to undergo Pap smear testing. Health beliefs, such as perceived benefits, severity, barriers to Pap smear testing, and health motivation for a Pap smear test were associated with the intention to undergo Pap smear testing among rural Indonesian women. Overall, the hierarchical multiple regression with 3 steps containing demographic, health characteristics, and health belief variables accounted for 31% variance of the intention to undergo Pap smear test among the Indonesian rural women. Conclusions Low screening rates of cervical cancer and high intentions to do the screening exist among rural Indonesian women. Health beliefs significantly affect the rural women’s intention of Pap smear testing in Indonesia.

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Urban–rural disparity in cancer incidence in China, 2008–2012: a cross-sectional analysis of data from 36 cancer registers

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-042762 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. e042762

Author(s):

Shuai Yuan ◽

Shao-Hua Xie

Keyword(s):

Cancer Incidence ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Incidence Rates ◽

Cancer Type ◽

Anatomic Site ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Rural And Urban Areas ◽

Rural And Urban ◽

Urban Rural

ObjectiveThe substantial differences in socioeconomic and lifestyle exposures between urban and rural areas in China may lead to urban–rural disparity in cancer risk. This study aimed to assess the urban–rural disparity in cancer incidence in China.MethodsUsing data from 36 regional cancer registries in China in 2008–2012, we compared the age-standardised incidence rates of cancer by sex and anatomic site between rural and urban areas. We calculated the rate difference and rate ratio comparing rates in rural versus urban areas by sex and cancer type.ResultsThe incidence rate of all cancers in women was slightly lower in rural areas than in urban areas, but the total cancer rate in men was higher in rural areas than in urban areas. The incidence rates in women were higher in rural areas than in urban areas for cancers of the oesophagus, stomach, and liver and biliary passages, but lower for cancers of thyroid and breast. Men residing in rural areas had higher incidence rates for cancers of the oesophagus, stomach, and liver and biliary passages, but lower rates for prostate cancer, lip, oral cavity and pharynx cancer, and colorectal cancer.ConclusionsOur findings suggest substantial urban–rural disparity in cancer incidence in China, which varies across cancer types and the sexes. Cancer prevention strategies should be tailored for common cancers in rural and urban areas.

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Acute food insecurity and short-term coping strategies of urban and rural households of Bangladesh during the lockdown period of COVID-19 pandemic of 2020: report of a cross-sectional survey

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043365 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (12) ◽

pp. e043365

Author(s):

Subhasish Das ◽

Md. Golam Rasul ◽

Md Shabab Hossain ◽

Ar-Rafi Khan ◽

Md Ashraful Alam ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Insecurity ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽

Rural Households ◽

P Value ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Food Insecure Households

IntroductionWe conducted a cross-sectional survey to assess the extent and to identify the determinants of food insecurity and coping strategies in urban and rural households of Bangladesh during the month-long, COVID-19 lockdown period.SettingSelected urban and rural areas of Bangladesh.Participants106 urban and 106 rural households.Outcome variables and methodHousehold food insecurity status and the types of coping strategies were the outcome variables for the analyses. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were done to identify the determinants.ResultsWe found that around 90% of the households were suffering from different grades of food insecurity. Severe food insecurity was higher in urban (42%) than rural (15%) households. The rural households with mild/moderate food insecurity adopted either financial (27%) or both financial and food compromised (32%) coping strategies, but 61% of urban mild/moderate food insecure households applied both forms of coping strategies. Similarly, nearly 90% of severely food insecure households implemented both types of coping strategies. Living in poorest households was significantly associated (p value <0.05) with mild/moderate (regression coefficient, β: 15.13, 95% CI 14.43 to 15.82), and severe food insecurity (β: 16.28, 95% CI 15.58 to 16.97). The statistically significant (p <0.05) determinants of both food compromised and financial coping strategies were living in urban areas (β: 1.8, 95% CI 0.44 to 3.09), living in poorest (β: 2.7, 95% CI 1 to 4.45), poorer (β: 2.6, 95% CI 0.75 to 4.4) and even in the richer (β: 1.6, 95% CI 0.2 to 2.9) households and age of the respondent (β: 0.1, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.21).ConclusionBoth urban and rural households suffered from moderate to severe food insecurity during the month-long lockdown period in Bangladesh. But, poorest, poorer and even the richer households adopted different coping strategies that might result in long-term economic and nutritional consequences.

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