Analysing the determinants of cervical cancer screening among women: a case study of Kikoni village

Abstract

Uganda is known to be one of the leading countries with high morbidity and mortality rates among women resulting from cervical cancer. Early screening for cervical cancer is a key measure in reduction of maternal deaths all over the world. Hence this study was conducted to analyze the determinants of cervical cancer screening among women in Kikoni. The study population included the women of Kikoni, a village in Central Uganda. A sample of 196 women was selected using the simple random sampling and the Cochran sampling technique. Data was collected using questionnaires. Collected data was analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively and a binary logistic regression model was used. Summary findings indicate that the uptake of CC screening was low among the women in Kikoni (18%). In regards to marital status, more single women (92.9%) were screened unlike married women were only (52.7%) were screened. Women with no children were more likely to be screened for cervical cancer than women with between 1 and 3 children. Health insurance is statistically significant with the uptake of cervical cancer screening (p-value 0.003 at 5% significance level). Medium income was found to be a significant predictor for uptake of CC screening (p value = 0.037) and knowledge on all screening methods was found to be significant (p value = 0.001). The main determinants associated with Cervical Cancer screening according to our study are health insurance, medium income status and knowledge about CCS. Despite some people having knowledge about CC and CCS they still did not engage in the screening process, therefore more reasons for women not involving need to be further investigated. Screening opportunities should be expanded in order to specifically attend to women under the low income status. And also, investment in interventions that increase women economic empowerment will increase the women’s financial ability to afford health care.