In August 2014, the respected Medical Journal of Malaysia published a paper on “A Review of Cervical Cancer Research in Malaysia”. Its author, Dr Zaridah Shaffie, Consultant Gynecologist at Tuanku Fauziah Hospital, Perlis, had pored over 57 research papers on various cervical cancer outlooks in Malaysia.
In particular, she paid attention to the persistent infection of cervical cancer-causing human papillomavirus (HPV), protection from HPV through vaccination, Pap smear screening struggles, and the attitude and knowledge of Malaysian women that contributed to the failure to reduce the number of cervical cancer cases as well as its mortality rate.
The second most widespread cancer among Malaysian women.
Despite being preventable, cervical cancer remains the second most common cancer – number one being breast cancer – among women in Malaysia. It is also a top killer – ranked number four – of Malaysian women aged between 15 and 44. The occurrence of cervical cancer in Malaysia beats other Asian and Western countries, and the resulting deaths are over two times higher than the Netherlands, UK and Finland.
Dr Zaridah’s literature review concluded that these unwelcome national cervical cancer statistics are due to the poor knowledge and attitude of Malaysian women, as well as an overall deficiency of nationwide awareness, especially when it comes to cervical cancer screening and prevention.
Lack of knowledge and limited awareness.
Many studies revealed that Malaysian females – both teenagers and adults – lack understanding on HPV infection and cervical cancer, and this translates into their position on HPV vaccination.
Teenage girls.
A study revealed that teenagers from rural Sarawak were deprived of cervical cancer knowledge and its prevention, and many did not accept the HPV vaccination. On the other hand, teenage girls living in big cities such as Kuala Lumpur also exhibited low knowledge of cervical cancer and its prevention. However, their attitude toward HPV vaccinations was encouraging.
Women.
In another survey conducted, rural women in Malaysia had extremely poor knowledge toward cervical cancer and HPV. And their acceptance of the HPV inoculation had significant correlation with their knowledge of cervical screening and cervical cancer risk factors. These women didn’t agree to be vaccinated because they doubted the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness, or were just mortified to be receiving a vaccine for a sexually transmitted disease.
In metropolitan Kuala Lumpur, women there also showed little knowledge of HPV and HPV vaccine. However, many agreed to immunize for their daughters against HPV if the vaccination was made routine and free.
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