Publications

Globally, cervical cancer stands as a pressing health issue for women, ranking as thesecond most common cancer type among females worldwide. A study conducted at FortPortal Regional Referral Hospital in Fort Portal City aimed to assess the prevalence andfactors impacting the participation of women of reproductive age in cervical cancerscreening tests. Employing a cross-sectional descriptive design with quantitative methods,the study utilized a consecutive sampling technique, surveying 96 respondents throughself-administered questionnaires. Data analysis involved coding and entry via SPSS 20.1,with findings presented through tables, graphs, and pie charts. Results indicated that onlya quarter of respondents (25%) had undergone cervical cancer screening, predominantlyopting for Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) (58.3%). Notably, a significant proportionof screened individuals (66.7%) hailed from rural areas, and the majority (66.7%) had aparity of 3 or fewer children. Moreover, 58.3% of those screened reported earning morethan 400,000 shs per month. Unexpectedly, reluctance accounted for 44.8% of respondents'reasons for not undergoing screening. In summary, despite free accessibility to the service,there's a notably low prevalence of cervical cancer screening. Reluctance and fearassociated with the procedure emerged as significant barriers hindering the uptake ofcervical cancer screening among the surveyed population.Keywords: Cervical cancer, Reproductive age, Mothers, Women, Human papillomavirus