Article

Assessing Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Women of Reproductive Age (15-49) Towards Cervical Cancer Screening in Adyel Division, Adyel Ward, Lira City West Division, Lira City

Abstract

Background: The WHO estimates that only about five per cent of women in the developing world have been screened for cervical cancer in the last five years compared to 75 per cent in the developed world. In Uganda, cervical cancer is the number one cause of cancer related death in women. The WHO estimated that in 2014, approximately 3915 Ugandan women were diagnosed with cervical cancer and that 2160 died from the disease (HPV information center, 2016). A 33% prevalence of HPV among women in Uganda combined with low screening uptake has resulted into the country having one of the highest cervical cancer incidence rates in the world of 47.5 per 100.000 per year (HPV information center 2016). Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of women of reproductive age towards cervical cancer screening so that the magnitude of the problem is reduced and if possible, eliminated from the prevailing health problems in Uganda. Methods: This study is a descriptive cross-sectional design employing quantitative data collection method conducted in Adyel division, Lira district among women of reproductive age (15-49) on cervical cancer screening. Results: Nearly all the respondents (97.9%) heard of cervical cancer, almost every respondent had heard about cervical cancer screening reflected by (93.8%) respondents, sixty-two-point two percent (69.2%) of the respondents were aware that cervical cancer is transmitted from men to women, the majority of the respondents (82.2%) knew that cervical cancer affects women only and nearly all respondents (82.2%) knew that cervical cancer can be prevented. More than half of the respondent (51.7%) had ever screened for cervical cancer, the greatest proportion of the respondent (43.4%) screened from private clinics. Whereas none of the demographic factors of the respondents was significantly associated with hearing about cervical cancer as revealed by chi-square analysis results(p>0.05), there exists a weak negative association between the overall attitudes of respondents and screen status for cervical cancer as confirmed by chi-square test result of p-value = 0.040, X2 = 10.04, CI = (0.001-0.54). Conclusion: The general awareness and attitude regarding cervical cancer screening were both positive. However, this did not convert into appropriate screening practises for cervical cancer, as less than half of the population had ever been screened. The high expense of screening, the absence of cervical cancer screening services, and the absence of the disease contributed to the low screening rate.
Keywords: Cervical cancer, Screening, Knowledge, Awareness and Attitudes