Cervical cancer screening practice and associated factors, among women of reproductive age in Butajira town, Central Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Cervical cancer is the second most common and the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among female cancers. Globally a marked increase has been predicted, especially in developing countries with a 58% cases and 63% deaths to 2025. Despite this fact, very few women have received screening services in Ethiopia. Ethiopia has a strategic goal to reduce cancer incidence and mortality by 15% by 2020 of which cervical cancer is the priority. Objective: This study aimed to identify cervical cancer screening practice and its associated factor among women of productive age in Butajira, central Ethiopia, 2018. Methods and materials: A community based cross-section study was conducted on 611(quantitative) and 20(qualitative) among eligible women of reproductive age in Butajira town, from March 20 – April 19, 2018GC. A multi stage sampling technique was used. Structured and semi structured Amharic questionnaire and in depth interview were used. Data cleaned and entered with epidata 3.1 and analysed by SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the results and bivariate and multivariate logistic regression has done to identify associated factors for cervical cancer screening practice. Result: Six hundred eleven women of reproductive age groups participated for quantitative study and 20 for in-depth interview, with the response rate of 98.7%. Thirty nine (6.4%) of participants were screened for cervical cancer in the study area before the study. Among participants, 345 (56.5%) and 295(48.3%) were heard of cervical cancer and screening respectively. Hundred sixty three (26.7%) of participants were found to be knowledgeable about cervical cancer and screening [AOR: 11.437, 95% CI (3.255, 40.187), P< 0.000]. Among those, who heard about cervical cancer, 163 (47.2%) had good perceived barriers [AOR: 4.057, 95% CI (1.606, 10.248), P< 0.003]. Hundred and ninety one (31.2%) participants heard about cervical cancer through media [AOR: 4.871, 95% CI (1.887, 12.574), P< 0.001]. Only 92(15.1%) have gotten health education about cervical cancer and screening [AOR: 4.440, 95% CI, (1.763, 11.586) P< 0.002]. Conclusion and Recommendations: Cervical cancer screening uptake among females of reproductive age in Butajira town was insufficient. Knowledge, perceived barriers, media heard and health education on cervical cancer and screening were an important predictors of cervical cancer screening uptake. Strong attention should be given on better awareness creation and attitudinal change by health education through different means of communications.