BACKGROUND

Cervical cancer is a public health problem and one of the leading causes of death in women worldwide. In Ethiopia, the government expands cervical cancer screening centers and recommends services to age-eligible and high-risk groups of women. However, evidence indicates that the utilization of services among eligible and high-risk women in the country has remained very low, and data are scarce in Dire Dawa. Therefore, this study aimed to assess cervical cancer screening service utilization and associated factors among women aged 30 to 49 years in Dire Dawa, eastern Ethiopia.

METHODS

A facility-based cross-sectional study was undertaken in Dire Dawa from February 01 to March 01, 2017. Only two facilities provided the screening service in Dire Dawa Administration. Six- hundred and one women aged 30 to 49 years were selected using a systematic sampling method. Data were collected using a pretested face-to-face interview administered questionnaire. Data were entered using EpiData 3.1, and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science Version 21. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the factors associated with cervical cancer screening utilization. An adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used, and a p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

In this study, the magnitude of cervical cancer screening service utilization was 4.0% (95% CI: 2.5-5.7). The factors associated with cervical cancer screening service utilization were older age (AOR = 4.2; 95% CI:1.3-13.8), attending private health facilities (AOR = 8.9; 95% CI: 2.8-28.0), being employed (AOR = 3.3; 95% CI: 1.3-8.8), visiting the gynecology departments (AOR = 3.8; 95% CI: 1.5-9.8), being knowledgeable (AOR = 4.8; 95% CI: 1.5-15.5), being counseled by health professionals (AOR = 4.1; 95% CI: 1.5-11.3), and user's of family planning (AOR = 4.9; 95% CI: 1.2-20.0).

CONCLUSION

The magnitude of cervical cancer screening utilization was very low. Hence, to improve the screening service utilization of cervical cancer, a campaign on community awareness, strengthening service linkage among departments, expansion of the centers for cervical cancer screening, and promotion of family planning method utilization are recommended.