Awareness of Colorectal Cancer and Associated Factors Among Adult Patients in Jimma, South-West Ethiopia.

Abstract Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the first commonest diagnosed cancer in men and the fourth commonest in women in Ethiopia. The most significant factors that may increase the risk of having CRC were modifiable. However, little is known about the awareness of CRC and associated factors among adult patients in study area. Therefore, the study aimed to assess the awareness of CRC and associated factors among adult patients in Jimma, South-West Ethiopia, 2020. Methods: The institution-based quantitative cross-sectional study design was conducted among 422 patients from March 8 to April 30, 2020. The study participants were recruited by a systematic random sampling method and data was collected semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaires. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate logistic regression was implemented. The statistical level of significance was stated at p-value < 0.05. Result: A 100% response rate in this study was recorded. More than half (57.6%) of the study participants had low awareness of colorectal cancer. Smoking (78.2%) and bloody stool (49.3%) were the most known risk factors and symptoms. There is a significant association between awareness of colorectal cancer with gender, residency, monthly income, level of education, information sources, and heard about CRC. Conclusion: Overall awareness of patients towards CRC was inadequate. Participants with high levels of education and females had better awareness, however; the overall awareness of them was insufficient. Therefore, there is a need for awareness campaigns and health education for promoting colorectal cancer awareness.