{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,11,3]],"date-time":"2026-11-03T10:28:51Z","timestamp":1793701731427,"version":"4.5.1"},"reference-count":0,"publisher":"Sultan Qaboos University","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2020,5,10]],"date-time":"2020-05-10T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1589068800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nd\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Objectives: This study aimed to assess knowledge and attitudes among Omani woman regarding cervical cancer risk factors and symptoms as well as barriers to them seeking medical help. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2017 and March 2018 at the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) in Muscat, Oman. A validated Arabic-language version of the Cervical Cancer Awareness Measure questionnaire was used to collect data from 550 Omani women visiting SQUH during the study period. Results: A total of 490 women participated (response rate: 89.1%) in this study. Overall, the women demonstrated low levels of knowledge of cervical cancer risk factors and symptoms (28.5% and 45.0%, respectively). The most frequently recognised risk factor was having many children (36.1%), while the most recognised symptom was unexplained vaginal bleeding (69.8%). Women reported that being too scared was the greatest barrier to seeking medical help (68.0%). Various factors were significantly associated with greater knowledge of cervical cancer signs and symptoms including education level (odds ratio [OR] = 2.85; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.0\u20138.22; P &lt;0.05), income (OR = 4.34; 95% CI: 1.70\u201311.12; P &lt;0.05), parity (OR = 3.59; 95% CI: 1.38\u20139.36; P &lt;0.05) and a family history of cancer (OR = 1.71; CI: 1.0\u20132.90; P &lt;0.05). Conclusion: Overall, Omani women demonstrated poor knowledge with regards to cervical cancer; in addition, they identified several emotional barriers to seeking medical help. Healthcare practitioners should reassure female patients to encourage care-seeking behaviour. A national screening programme is also recommended to increase awareness and early diagnosis of cervical cancer in Oman.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.18295\/squmj.2020.20.03.009","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2020,10,5]],"date-time":"2020-10-05T05:44:57Z","timestamp":1601876697000},"page":"e301-309","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":7,"title":["Knowledge of Risk Factors, Symptoms and Barriers to Seeking Medical Help for Cervical Cancer among Omani Women Attending Sultan Qaboos University Hospital"],"prefix":"10.18295","volume":"20","author":[{"given":"Mohammed H","family":"Al-Azri","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Family Medicine & Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Maytha","family":"Al-Saidi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Eman","family":"Al-Mutairi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sathiya M","family":"Panchatcharam","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Research, Oman Medical Specialty Board, Muscat, Oman"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"7681","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,5,10]]},"container-title":["Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.squ.edu.om\/index.php\/squmj\/article\/viewFile\/3818\/2917","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.squ.edu.om\/index.php\/squmj\/article\/viewFile\/3818\/2917","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,11,3]],"date-time":"2026-11-03T09:51:12Z","timestamp":1793699472000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/mjournal.squ.edu.om\/home\/vol20\/iss3\/9"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2020,5,10]]},"references-count":0,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,5,10]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.18295\/squmj.2020.20.03.009","relation":{},"ISSN":["2075-0528"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2075-0528","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2020,5,10]]}}}