Factors Affecting Uptake Of Cervical Cancer Screening Services Among Women Aged 25-49 Attending Antenatal Clinic At Rukunyu Health Center Iv, Kamwenge District.

Abstract

Background: Globally, cervical cancer ranks fourth among the most frequent cancer that affect women, currently it is estimated that every year 527,624 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, most of which occur in less developed world while 265,672 die from the disease. In Africa the disease has the highest morbidity and mortality rates among women aged 15 and above. 85% of the 265,672 cervical cancer related deaths in the world occurred in sub-Saharan Africa. In Uganda cervical cancer ranks as the 1st leading cause of female cancer and is the most common female cancer in women aged 15 to 44 years. This study, will therefore seek to explore factors that influence the uptake of cervical cancer screening services by women of reproductive age at Rukunyu Health Center IV, Kamwenge District in western Uganda.

Method: In a cross sectional quantitative descriptive study, 100 women aged 25-49 attending antenatal clinic at Rukunyu Health Center IV, Kamwenge District were interviewed by answering questionnaires to explore factors that influence the uptake of cervical cancer screening services. Significant associations between the factors and uptake of cervical cancer screening were determined using P-Values.

Results: The study established that majority (72%) of the respondents had not undergone cervical cancer screening, most (78%) of whom were between the age group of 25-33 years. The study further established that the was significant association between level of education, inadequate knowledge about cervical cancer, individual‘s awareness about cervical cancer screening services at the health center and the distances from the health center.

Conclusion: the study established that there were significant associations between education level, inadequate knowledge about cervical cancer, awareness of the presence of the screening service, and distance from the hospital with uptake of cervical cancer screening services.

Keywords: Cervical cancer screening, uptake, and women of reproductive age.