Health education to enhance the knowledge of cervical cancer screening among female factory workers in Cambodia

Abstract

Objective: This article described the practice and lessons learned from health education activities conducted in a project for improving the healthcare of female factory workers in Cambodia. It aimed to develop a comprehensive approach for cervical cancer management.

Contents: Responding to the urgent need of establishing a feasible cervical cancer screening program in Cambodia, the Cambodian Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics (SCGO) conducted a project jointly with the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the National Center for Global Health and Medicine from 2015 to 2018. This project was initially started with a survey about the knowledge, attitudes, and practice regarding reproductive health and cervical cancer at a factory in a special economic zone. Following this, health education materials were developed and the SCGO health education team started a health education program for the factory workers. Health education was given to 2,450 women and a cervical cancer screening was conducted for 31 women. The health education activities were evaluated by reviewing the activity reports and related materials as well as by conducting interviews with 13 health education participants and 8 implementers.

Conclusion: The female factory workers recognized the health education program as a valuable opportunity to learn about their own health and basic hygiene, and factory managers also found it effective for the welfare of their workers. Besides, it also granted a professional value to the SCGO members.