Publications

Globally, cervical cancer ranks fourth among the most frequent cancers that affect women. Currently, it is estimated that everyyear 527,624 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, most of whom are in less developed countries. Meanwhile, 265,672 womendie from the disease. In Africa, the disease has the highest morbidity and mortality rates among women aged 15 and above. Eightyfivepercent of the 265,672 cervical cancer-related deaths in the world occur in sub-Saharan Africa. In Uganda, cervical cancerranks as the leading cause of female cancer and is the most common cancer in women aged 15 to 44 years. This study will thereforeseek to explore the factors that influence the utilization of cervical cancer screening services by women of reproductive age inIshaka Town, Bushenyi District in Southwestern Uganda. In a cross-sectional quantitative descriptive study, 150 women aged 25-49 in Ishaka Town, Bushenyi District, were interviewed by answering questionnaires to explore the factors that influence theutilization of cervical cancer screening services. Significant associations between the factors and the utilization of cervical cancerscreening were determined using P-Values. The study established that the majority (72%) of the respondents had not undergonecervical cancer screening, most of whom (78%) were in the age group of 25-33 years. The study further established that there was asignificant association between the level of education, inadequate knowledge and perception about cervical cancer, and cervicalcancer screening services, as well as individual awareness about cervical cancer screening in Ishaka Town, Bushenyi District. Thestudy established that there were significant associations between education level, inadequate knowledge about cervical cancer, andperception and awareness of the need for cervical cancer screening.