Background
In
developing countries, inadequate access to effective screening for cervical
cancer often contributes to the high morbidity and mortality caused by the
disease. The largest burden of this falls mostly on underserved populations in
rural areas, where health care access is characterized by transport challenges,
ill equipped health facilities, and lack of information access. This study
assessed uptake of cervical cancer screening and associated factors among women
in rural Uganda.
Methods
This
descriptive cross sectional study was carried out in Bugiri and Mayuge
districts in eastern Uganda and utilised quantitative data collection methods.
Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire on cervical cancer
screening among females aged between 25 and 49 years who had spent six or more
months in the area. Data were entered in Epidata 3.02 and analysed in STATA
12.0 statistical software. Univariate, bivariate and multivariate analyses were
performed.
Results
Of
the 900 women, only 43 (4.8%) had ever been screened for cervical cancer. Among
respondents who were screened, 21 (48.8%) did so because they had been
requested by a health worker, 17 (39.5%) had certain signs and symptoms they
associated with cervical cancer while 16 (37.2%) did it voluntarily to know
their status. Barriers to cervical cancer screening were negative individual
perceptions 553 (64.5%) and health facility related challenges 142 (16.6%).
Other respondents said they were not aware of the screening service 416
(48.5%). The independent predictors of cervical cancer screening were: being
recommended by a health worker [AOR = 87.85, p<0.001], knowing where
screening services were offered [AOR = 6.24, p = 0.004], and knowing someone
who had ever been screened [AOR = 9.48, p = 0.001].
Conclusion
The prevalence of cervical cancer screening is very low
in rural Uganda. Interventions to increase uptake of cervical cancer screening
should be implemented so as to improve access to the service in rural areas.
Below: Suggested measures for increasing uptake of cervical cancer screening services
Full article at: http://goo.gl/rQQ6D8
By:
Rawlance Ndejjo, Trasias Mukama, David Musoke
Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health,
School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University,
Kampala, Uganda
Angele Musabyimana
Department of Community Health, School of Public Health,
College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda
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