Publications

This research aimed to gauge cervical cancer screening participation and its influencingfactors among Women of Reproductive Age (WRA) at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital (JRRH)in Eastern Uganda. Conducted from January to April 2021, the study utilized a cross-sectionaldescriptive design, surveying 370 WRA through pretested semi-structured questionnaires.Analysis was performed using SPSS version 20, presenting outcomes through tables,frequencies, percentages, and logistic regression analyses. Among the 370 respondents,merely 24.3% (90 individuals) had undergone cervical cancer screening. Of these, 14.1% hadone screening, 7.0% had two screenings, and 3.2% had been screened three or more times.The primary mode of screening (11%) occurred during medical camps. Regarding awareness,89.7% had heard of cervical screening, predominantly through radio broadcasts (41.0%), with41.4% recognizing its purpose and 52.4% acknowledging its role in early detection andtreatment. Furthermore, 94.3% viewed cervical cancer screening as a beneficial practice, with81.1% advocating for other women to undergo screening, while 90% believed in promotingthis practice. Culturally and religiously, the acceptance of cervical cancer screening waswidespread. Demographically, most respondents (66.5%) fell within the 15-30 age bracket,with the majority identifying as Anglicans (33.8%) and 88.9% being Ugandan nationals.Educational attainment was predominantly at the secondary (37.0%) and tertiary (39.2%)levels. Regression analysis indicated that being Anglican significantly influenced the uptakeof cervical cancer screening [OR=2.219(1.039 – 3.899); 95% CI, P=0.038)]. Despite increasedknowledge and awareness about cervical cancer screening’s purpose, treatment, andassociated complications, uptake remains below desired levels. Notably, a substantialnumber of women did not seek screening due to the absence of signs or symptoms and lackof advice from medical professionals, exposing a gap in primary healthcare significance. Thestudy underscores the need for heightened health education across healthcare platforms toemphasize the critical importance of cervical cancer screening and encourage more womento partake in this essential preventive practice.Keywords: Cancer, Women, Cervical cancer screening, Pap smear test.