WOMEN’S EDUCATION AS A DETERMINANT OF KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES IN THE PREVENTION OF BREAST AND CERVICAL CANCER. STUDY RESULTS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32782/2786-7684/2025-4-24Keywords:
primary health care, disease burden, noncommunicable diseases, sex factors, neoplasms, management, motivation, health care organization, health care management, gender, health promotionAbstract
Introduction. The war in Ukraine has disrupted healthcare, shifting focus from prevention to urgent medical care. The study aimed examined how women’s education influences believes, knowledge and practices related to the prevention of breast and cervical cancer. Material and methods. The survey of women aged 21–74 years, used the validated “Ukrainian Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Questionnaire”. Data were analysed with descriptive statistics and the Kruskal–Wallis H-test. Results. A total of 198 women participated, predominantly aged 30–65 with higher education (69.1%). Education level influenced certain beliefs and behavioral practices: women with higher education were more likely to reject pessimistic views on breast cancer treatment (p=0.048) and showed greater awareness of the Pap smear test (p=0.005) and HPV’s role in cervical cancer (p<0.001). Those with lower education levels more often supported a reactive approach to screening (p=0.021) and delayed seeking medical help until symptoms appeared (p=0.041). They also had misconceptions regarding family history as the sole risk factor for breast cancer (p<0.05). No differences were found in knowledge of mammography and breast self-examination. Discussion. While education showed minimal impact on perceptions of cancer treatment and prognosis, it significantly influenced awareness, critical evaluation of myths, and proactive screening behavior. These findings underscore the need for education-sensitive strategies to improve BC and CC prevention in Ukraine. Conclusions. Level of education partly shapes women’s perceptions and knowledge of breast and cervical cancer.
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