Outcome of an Educational Program on Body Image Distress Associated with Cervical Cancer

Research Abstract

Background: Body image is referred as how one mentally perceives and subjectively experiences his/her body. Body image after cancer may be different. Between 30% of the women that underwent treatment for cervical cancer experienced some physical and psychological problems. Women with cervical cancer will have a feeling self-conscious about appearance, they may be dissatisfied with appearance when dressed, feeling less feminine as a result of disease or treatment, finding difficult to look at naked, avoiding people because of the way you felt about appearance, feeling the treatment has left body less whole, feeling dissatisfied with body. Aim: study the outcomes of an educational program on the body image of women with cervical cancer. Methods; Design: Cohort prospective study design was used. Setting: out-patient clinic in the oncology unit at Beni-Suef University Hospital. Subjects: A purposive sample of 70 women. Tools: structured interviewing questionnaire sheet, and the Body Image Scale. Results: The results of the study revealed improvement in all items of Body Image Scale post-program compared to pre-one. Conclusion: The teaching program was very effective in improving body image for women with cervical cancer. Recommendations: Women's counseling activities for women regarding cervical cancer, and good body need to be popularized and facilities and decision-making aids made available to those who need them.

Research Keywords

Cervical Cancer, Body Image