Assessing Factors that Influence Uptake of Cervical Cancer Screening in Family Guidance Association of Ethiopia, 2014

Background: Cancer of the cervix is the first most common cancer in Ethiopia and is a leading cause of death from cancer among women in low-resource settings, affecting women at a time of life when they are critical to social and economic stability. The development of a screening test for cervical dysplasia has been a major force in diminishing the worldwide incidence and mortality of invasive cervical cancer. The aim of this research is to establish facts that influence the uptake of cervical cancer screening in the target groups, in order to improve utilization of screening. Being deficient of preceding measurement confines the improvement and effectiveness of cervical cancer prevention efforts, primarily screening. Methods: A quantitative, unmatched case control study was conducted. Women consisting of 122 cases and 488 controls were interviewed. Interviewer administered questionnaires was means of data collection by trained health professionals. Logistic regression and chi square tests were determined and significance of association was assessed using 95% CI and p-value < 0.05 Result: The study revealed that being in the age group of 38-49 (AOR:3.1, 95% CI:1.09,9.2) and previous screening increased the likelihood of screening (AOR:25, 95% CI 11.1, 55.9). Decreased likelihood of uptake of the test was observed among those who visited health facility for gynecologic reason last year (AOR:0.35 95% CI:0.19,0.66) and who achieved above the mean of the knowledge score (AOR:0.25 95% CI:0.13,0.45). Conclusion: Comprehensive knowledge on important aspect about cervical cancer and screening is very low; misconception on symptoms, risk factors and indication on screening was found to be high.