Socio-demographic and behavioural risk factors for cervical cancer and knowledge, attitude and practice in rural and urban areas of North Bengal, India
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is common among women worldwide. A multitude of risk factors aggravate the disease. This study was conducted to: (1) determine the prevalence and (2) make a comparative analysis of the socio-demographic and behavioural risk factors of cervical cancer and knowledge, attitude and practice between rural and urban women of North Bengal, India. STUDY DESIGN: Community-based cross-sectional study. METHODS: A survey (first in North Bengal) was conducted among 133 women in a rural area (Kawakhali) and 88 women in an urban slum (Shaktigarh) using predesigned semi-structured questionnaires. The respondents were informed of the causes (including HPV), signs and symptoms, prevention of cervical cancer and treatment, and the procedure of the PAP test and HPV vaccination. RESULTS: The prevalence of risk factors like multiparity, early age of marriage, use of cloth during menstruation, use of condom and OCP, early age of first intercourse was 37.2%, 82%, 83.3%, 5.4%, 15.8% and 65.6% respectively. Awareness about the cause, signs and symptoms, prevention of cervical cancer, PAP test and HPV vaccination was 3.6%, 6.3%, 3.6%, 9.5% and 14.5% respectively. Chi-square testing revealed that in the study population, significant differential at 5% exists between rural and urban residents with respect to number of children, use of cloth/sanitary napkins, family history of cancer and awareness regarding causes of cervical cancer. Regarding KAP, again using chi-square tests, surprisingly, level of education is found to be significant for each element of KAP in urban areas in contrast to complete absence of association between education and elements of KAP in rural areas. CONCLUSIONS: A large number of risk factors were present in both areas, the prevalence being higher in the rural areas. The level of awareness and role of education appears to be insignificant determinants in rural compared to urban areas. This pilot study needs to be followed up by large scale programmes to re-orient awareness campaigns, especially in rural areas.
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Community-level factors, including stigma, cultural norms, and religious beliefs, often reinforced vaccine hesitancy, though engagement with local leaders and culturally tailored interventions showed promise.
“Community-level factors, including stigma, cultural norms, and religious beliefs, often reinforced vaccine hesitancy, though engagement with local leaders and culturally tailored interventions showed promise 28,30,34,36.”
From Barriers to HPV vaccination among adolescent girls in India: A scoping review (2026) · cites this paper as [34]
The Abstract reports low HPV-vaccination awareness and recommends reorienting awareness campaigns, especially in rural areas. Searches for stigma, cultural or religious beliefs, vaccine hesitancy, local leaders, and culturally tailored interventions found no passage addressing the claimed barriers or approaches. (LLM, conf=0.74)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredOlder adolescent girls (15-19 yr) were generally more informed and receptive to HPV vaccination than younger adolescents.
“Older adolescent girls (15–19 yr) were generally more informed and receptive to HPV vaccination than younger adolescents, likely due to greater exposure to health education or peer discussions12,20,34.”
From Barriers to HPV vaccination among adolescent girls in India: A scoping review (2026) · cites this paper as [34]
The Abstract (pp. 1093–1096; specific page not identified in our copy) reports overall HPV-vaccination awareness among women in rural and urban North Bengal. Searches for ages 15–19 and age-specific vaccine awareness or acceptance found no comparison between older and younger adolescent girls, nor an explanation involving health education or peers. (LLM, conf=0.72)
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Barriers to HPV vaccination among adolescent girls in India: A scoping review
Josten, K., Rose Dhar, R., Reshmi, B., Natti Krishna, V., & Vennila, J. (2026) · The Indian Journal of Medical Research · doi:10.25259/ijmr_1834_2025 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
- Authors
- Raychaudhuri, S., & Mandal, S.
- Affiliations
- North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (IN)
- Venue
- Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
- Published
- 2012-04-30
- Volume
- 13
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 1093-1096
- ISSN
- 1513-7368 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2046377041
- Cited by
- 88
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 4.53
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by
- Locations
- Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Cervical Cancer and HPV Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Women's cancer prevention and management
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Global Cancer Incidence and Screening
- Keywords
- cervical cancer, risk factors, knowledge, attitudes and practices, urban-rural differences, women's health, human papillomavirus, Pap smear, HPV vaccination, multiparity, early marriage, menstrual hygiene, oral contraceptives, educational attainment, cancer awareness, North Bengal
- MeSH terms
- Age Factors, Uterine Cervical Neoplasms, Coitus, Cross-Sectional Studies, Educational Status, Female, Humans, India, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Pilot Projects, Surveys and Questionnaires, Risk Factors, Rural Population, Urban Population, Health Behavior, Chi-Square Distribution, Condoms, Marital Status, Papillomavirus Infections, Menstrual Hygiene Products
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