Cervical cancer in eastern Kenya (2018–2020): Impact of awareness and risk perception on screening practices

Background In 2023, Kenya recorded approximately 5,845 new cervical cancer cases and 3,591 deaths, primarily affecting women aged 30–49 due to persistent high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. This study aimed to assess the awareness of cervical cancer, its causes, risk factors, symptoms, and screening rates among women aged 18–46 seeking reproductive health care in eastern Kenya from 2018 to 2020. Objectives The aims of this study were to evaluate cervical cancer awareness, its causes, risk factors, and symptoms, and to explore the association between awareness and screening uptake among women in eastern Kenya. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Meru, Tharaka-Nithi, Kirinyaga, Embu, and Isiolo counties between 2018 and 2020. Stratified and simple random sampling was used to select participants, resulting in a total of 317 women aged 18–46 years. Data were collected through structured face-to-face interviews and analyzed using SPSS v25. Descriptive statistics summarized key variables, and logistic regression analysis assessed the association between awareness and screening uptake ( p < 0.05). Results The mean age of participants was 34.2 years (standard deviation ± 10.4). While 93.7% were aware of cervical cancer, only 24.7% identified HPV as its cause, and just 12.5% had undergone screening. Screening uptake was higher in Embu, among women under 30, and those with primary education. Hormonal contraceptive users were less likely to be screened (odd ratio: 0.48, confidence interval: 0.2–0.8). Conclusion Despite high awareness, knowledge gaps about cervical cancer’s cause and prevention remain. Targeted educational efforts are necessary to enhance screening uptake in underserved communities.