AUTHOR=Wang Lingyan , Wang Qianping , Zhou Xia , Liu Huan 

TITLE=Women’s knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding cervical precancerous lesions: a cross-sectional study in Beijing, China

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1433718

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2024.1433718

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=<sec id="sec1"><title>Background</title><p>This study aimed to examine the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of women in Beijing regarding cervical precancerous lesions.</p></sec><sec id="sec2"><title>Methods</title><p>This web-based, cross-sectional study included women at Dongzhimen Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine between March 13, 2024 and April 9, 2024. A self-administered questionnaire was developed to collect participants’ demographic information and KAP scores toward cervical precancerous lesions.</p></sec><sec id="sec3"><title>Results</title><p>The study included 951 valid questionnaires, with a mean age of 40.0 years. The mean knowledge, attitude, and practice scores were 12.55 ± 6.23 (possible range: 0–26), 50.66 ± 7.48 (possible range: 13–65), and 26.13 ± 4.98 (possible range: 7–35), respectively. The knowledge score (OR = 1.071, 95%CI: 1.040–1.103, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001), currently married (OR = 0.548, 95%CI: 0.304–0.985, <italic>p</italic> = 0.045), and with a history of HPV infection (OR = 2.302, 95%CI: 1.062–4.990, <italic>p</italic> = 0.035) were independently associated with the attitude score. The knowledge score (OR = 1.155, 95%CI: 1.119–1.192, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001), monthly income &gt;20,000 (OR = 2.793, 95%CI: 1.249–6.248, <italic>p</italic> = 0.012), a history of HPV infection (OR = 0.380, 95%CI: 0.222–0.650, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001), unknown HPV infection status (OR = 0.289, OR = 0.177–0.473, p &lt; 0.001), vaccinated against HPV (OR = 1.752, 95%CI: 1.221–2.514, <italic>p</italic> = 0.002), giving birth to one child (OR = 1.991, 95%CI: 1.186–3.341, <italic>p</italic> = 0.009), and giving birth to two or more children (OR = 2.160, 95%CI: 1.240–3.763, <italic>p</italic> = 0.007) were independently associated with the practice score. The structured equation model showed that knowledge directly influenced attitude (<italic>β</italic> = 0.237, <italic>p</italic> = 0.004) and practice (<italic>β</italic> = 0.490, <italic>p</italic> = 0.010). Attitude directly influenced practice (<italic>β</italic> = 0.193, <italic>p</italic> = 0.009).</p></sec><sec id="sec4"><title>Conclusion</title><p>This study revealed inadequate knowledge, moderate attitude, and practice toward cervical precancerous lesions among women in Beijing. Educational interventions should be developed to enhance knowledge in this regard.</p></sec>