Factors Associated with Uptake of Cervical Cancer Screening Among Reproductive AgedWomen attending the Gynecology Outpatient Clinic at Kampala International UniversityTeaching Hospital
| dc.contributor.author | John Chidanga | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-08-28T12:05:18Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-08-28T12:05:18Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2021-10 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Background. Cervical cancer remains one of leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality. It contributes to about 7.9% of all women related cancers and is the ranked 4th among all women cancers. In the fight against cervical cancer, its prodromal and asymptomatic stage has been found to be detectable and curable. Several screening modalities like Visual Inspection with acetic acid and Lugol’s Iodine, Human Papilloma Virus DNA, Pap smear have largely been instrumental to the reduction of cervical cancer prevalence. However, the uptake to these lifesaving methods remains inexplicably low and several barriers exist towards this. These hindering factors include lack of knowledge about causes of cervical cancer, lack of knowledge on when to screen and when to start screening, personal factors like fear of pain, fear of a positive diagnosis and fear of embarrassment. The result is 80% of women who present to Uganda Cancer Institute, do so in late stage of disease and it poses a detrimental challenge to the patients, their families and the health infrastructure. Objective.To determine the factors associated with uptake of cervical cancer screening in women of reproductive age attending Gynecological OPD clinic at Kampala International University Teaching Hospital. Methodology.This was a hospital-based descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study conducted at the antenatal clinic and maternity ward of KIU-TH between August and October 2021. A sample of 309 women were recruited, open-ended questionnaires were administered and pap-smear tests were carried out for those who took up screening. Slides were analysed and results of patterns of cytological findings were documented. The datat was then analysed using logistic regression. Results. The uptake to cervical cancer screening was found to be 18.8% (95% CI, 14.8%-23.5%). In multivariable analysis, being from a rural residence, HIV positive and have 2 or more sexual partners was found to be statistically significant. Further analysis on pap smear results revealed 37.93% being normal pap smears not having any intra epithelial lesion or malignancy, 29.31% had inflammatory findings, 27.59% were LSIL, 3.45% were ASCUS, and 1.72%HSIL. Conclusion.The uptake of cervical cancer screening falls within the global range despite it being low. The patterns on pap smear dictate the majority being normal followed by inflammatory changes then low grade changes then other findings. Being of a rural residence, HIV positive and having two or more sexual partners confers a higher chance of screening for cervical cancer. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12493/14975 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Kampala International University | |
| dc.title | Factors Associated with Uptake of Cervical Cancer Screening Among Reproductive AgedWomen attending the Gynecology Outpatient Clinic at Kampala International UniversityTeaching Hospital | |
| dc.type | Thesis |