Abstract
Background: Cervical cancer is the second most prevalent cancer in women. Every year, it claims the lives of hundreds of thousands of women worldwide. Screening for cervical cancer between the ages of 30 and 40 years can reduce a woman's risk by 25–36%. Despite this advantage, cervical cancer screening coverage is limited in low and middle income countries, including Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess cervical cancer screening uptake, acceptability, and associated factors among 30-49 years old women in Western Ethiopia.
Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted at public health facilities in the Kellam Wollega Zone, Western Ethiopia for 30 days starting from February 01 to March 02, 2022. Women attending public health facilities were recommended to undergo visual inspection with acetic acid in three outpatient departments (antiretroviral treatment, adult outpatient department, and family planning). Screening uptake was documented at each screening location. To assess acceptability, participants were interviewed after undergoing the screening process. The total sample size of the study was 451. The study participants were selected using a systematic random sampling method. Statistical associations were evaluated using crude and adjusted odds ratios. Variables with a P-value < 0.25 were identified in bivariate logistic regression and incorporated into multivariate logistic regression to identify factors influencing cervical cancer screening uptake. Statistical significance was established for variables that maintained a P-value of < 0.05 in the multivariate logistic regression model. The strength of the association was expressed using odds ratios (OR) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
Results: Of all respondents, 93(20.6%) had undergone screening and 73 (16.2%) had accepted screening for cervical cancer. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age group from to 35-39 years (AOR= 0.18, 95% CI: 0.04-0.8), good knowledge (AOR= 2, 95% CI: 0.6-7.9), higher self-efficacy (AOR= 3.3, 95% CI: 1.2-9.8), good perceived benefit (AOR= 6, 95% CI: 2.6-14.9), urban residency (AOR= 5.8, 95% CI: 2.5-13), ability to read and write (AOR= 0.09, 95% CI: 0.01-0.7), primary education (AOR= 0.04, 95% CI: 0.01-0.03), receiving counseling from health workers (AOR= 5.2, 95% CI: 7.23-37) and having lower than five family sizes (AOR= 5.7, 95% CI: 2.4-13) were significantly associated with cervical cancer screening uptake and acceptability.
Conclusion and recommendations: The proportion of cervical cancer screening uptake in the Kellam Wollega Zone (20.6%) was lower than the national target of 80%. To enhance cervical cancer screening practices, it is crucial to focus on three key strategies: educating women about screening procedures, increasing awareness of cancer risk and severity, and considering their individual medical history. These approaches are fundamental for promoting a more effective detection of cervical cancer.