KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING AMONG WOMEN AGED 15-49 YEARS IN BISHOFTU TOWN, EAST SHEWA ZONE, OROMIA REGION, ETHIOPIA, 2016

Abstract

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND
Every year more than 270.000 women die from cervical cancer, most of the morbidities and mortalities are from low and middle-income countries. Like other developing countries, its burden is also high in Ethiopia and about 7, 095 new cases are diagnosed annually and 4,732 women die from the disease.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims at assessing the knowledge, attitude and practice of cervical cancer screening among women aged 15-49 years in Bishoftu town, East Shewa Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia.
METHOD AND MATERIALS:
A community based cross-sectional study was conducted using multistage sampling technique among 845 reproductive aged women in Bishoftu town. Structured questionnaire was pretested and administered by interviewer to collect data and it was analyzed using SPSS version 20 software. Bivariate analysis was conducted to examine association between dependent and independent variables; Odds Ratios (ORs) and their 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs) were calculated. Then, multivariable logistic regression analysis model was used to control for confounders. Statistical significance was set at p-value less than 0.05.
RESULTS Among all study participants, 51.2% had good knowledge, 74.9% had favorable attitude, and 5.8% screened for cervical cancer. Level of education and source of information were associated with favorable attitude towards cervical cancer and its screening. Moreover, women who had good knowledge on cervical cancer and screening were more likely to have cervical cancer screening service uptake than those had poor knowledge (AOR=6.95, 95% CI (2.59-18.57)). CONCLUSION The study indicates that more than half of the study participants had good knowledge on causes, risk factors and preventive methods of cervical cancer and its screening. Majority of the participants have favorable attitude towards cervical cancer screening but, the practice of pre-cervical cancer screening is still low. Thus, awareness raising health education on cervical cancer and its screening should be given to the community by trained health workers and emphasis should be given for health promotion via masmedia.
KEYWORDS: Cervical cancer; screening; Bishoftu; Eastern Ethiopia
(Ethiopian Journal of Reproductive Health 2018; 10; 2: 42-52)