Cervical cancer screening uptake, acceptability and associated factors among women of age 30-49 years old in Gondar, North-West Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Although cervical cancer is preventable, screening coverage in Ethiopia is too low. Socio demographic, individual related, health facility and accessibility factors were identified barriers of cervical cancer screening. However study on cervical cancer screening uptake and acceptability has not well documented in Ethiopia. Objective: To assess cervical cancer screening uptake, acceptability and associated factors with “see and treat approach” among women of age 30-49 years old in Gondar town public health facilities North West Ethiopia from December to June 2019 E.C Method: A facility based cross sectional study was conducted from December to May 2019 G.C at public health institutions in Gondar town Northwest Ethiopia. Women who visited public health facilities were advised for VIA. Uptake of screening was recorded at each screening sites. Exit interview was conducted to determine acceptability after the screening procedure. The total sample size for the study was 493.Consecutive sampling method was applied to select study participants. Crude and adjusted OR was calculated to determine statistical association. P value<0.2 was used to select and transfer variables in to multivariable logistic regression to determine predictors of cervical cancer screening uptake. Result: Out of 464 women advised for screening, only 76(16.4%) were screened and out of 76 screened women 44(57.9%) accepted VIA test. Educational status(P=0.003),Knowledge status (AOR=8.4,95%CI(3.33,21.21),Perceived susceptibility (AOR=6.5,95%CI(2.72,15.51), Perceived barrier (AOR=6.4,95%CI(2.30,17.80), Cues to action (AOR=4.6,95%CI(1.86,11.32), Perceived self-efficacy (AOR=5,95%CI(2.14,11.73) and Ever been recommended for screening by health worker (AOR= 2.7,95%CI(1.15,6.51) were significantly associated with the screening uptake. Conclusion: The actual VIA cervical cancer screening uptake for the offer was measured to be very low among women in Gondar public health facilities despite more than half of screened women accepted the VIA test which uses “see and treat “approach. There is a need to increase awareness regarding VIA cervical cancer screening for those women eligible for screening at health facilities and to the community so as to increase VIA screening uptake and acceptability.