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Introduction: Cervical cancer screening is watching for precursors before a person develops any symptom and if abnormal tissues or precancerous are detected, it would be easier to treat or cure. Effective screening program can reduce the incidence and the progression to advanced stage of cancer as well as its mortality. All sexually active women are at risk of cervical cancer sometime in their age and its screening is free of any cost; however utilization of the service is extremely low among health workers in developing countries like in Ethiopia. Objective: To assess cervical cancer screening utilization and associated factors among female health workers in public health facilities of Hosanna town, Southern Ethiopia. Methods: Facility based cross-sectional study complemented with qualitative inquiry was conducted from June 2 /2021 to July 2/2021 among 241 study participants in Hossana town. Simple random sampling technique was used for quantitative method and purposive sampling technique was used for qualitative method. Binary and multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine the association. Crude and adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was computed and a variable with p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significance. Qualitative data were transcribed verbatim then translated to English and analysed using open code version 4.03 thematic analyses were used and presented in narration. Result: Of the total participants, 46 (19.6%) (95% CI: 14.5-24.7) respondents have been screened for cervical cancer. Female health worker with diploma level of education (AOR=0.48; 95%CI: 0.24,0.98),having three or more children (AOR=3.65;95%CI:1.44,9.21), multiple sexual partners (AOR=3.89;95%CI:1.38,11.01) and knowledge of cervical cancer screening (AOR=2.66;95 CI:1.19,5.95) were statistically significant association with cervical cancer screening utilization. Conclusion: The magnitude of cervical cancer screening service utilization among female health workers is still low. Educational status (with diploma level of education), parity of respondent (having three or more children), history of multiple sexual partners and knowledge about cervical cancer were predictors of cervical cancer screening utilization. Contextualized health talks and promotion through training with special focus on knowledge, behavioural change and availability of cervical cancer screening service is critical. |
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