Assistant Professor, Department of Population and Family Health, Jimma University, P.O. Box 378, Jimma, Ethiopia.
Professor, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
Sex Reprod Health Matters. 2023 Dec;31(1):2258477. doi: 10.1080/26410397.2023.2258477. Epub 2023 Oct 9.
Cervical cancer remains a public health problem worldwide. Screening for cervical cancer is poorly implemented in resource-limited settings. In Ethiopia, evidence from the community and health professionals regarding implementation of the screening programme is lacking. The objective of this study was to explore women's and health professionals' perceptions, beliefs, and barriers in relation to cervical screening in Southern Ethiopia. Five focus group discussions among women and six key informant interviews with health professionals were conducted from June to July 2022 to gather the required data from a total of 42 participants. The participants were purposively selected from a diverse group to ensure varied viewpoints. Data were collected through group discussions and face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured interview guide. The interview sessions were tape-recorded. The data were analysed using a thematic approach. Women demonstrated a low level of awareness and perceived risk. Also, the perceived benefit of screening for cervical cancer during healthy periods was low. Individual and system-level barriers to screening include low awareness, stigma, poor perceptions towards health screening and causes of cervical cancer, low risk perception and competing domestic priorities, shortage of trained human and other resources, human resource turnover, low implementation and lack of close follow-up of screening programmes. In summary, lack of awareness, misconceptions, and poor perceptions were common. Screening implementation and uptake were low due to individual, psychosocial, and system-related barriers. Therefore, behavioural change communication and system-strengthening efforts need to be in place to effectively tackle the observed gaps.
宫颈癌仍然是全球公共卫生问题。在资源有限的环境中，宫颈癌筛查的实施情况不佳。在埃塞俄比亚，缺乏社区和卫生专业人员对筛查计划实施情况的证据。本研究的目的是探讨女性和卫生专业人员对南部埃塞俄比亚宫颈癌筛查的看法、信念和障碍。2022 年 6 月至 7 月，共进行了 5 次女性焦点小组讨论和 6 次卫生专业人员关键知情人访谈，从总共 42 名参与者中收集所需数据。参与者是从不同群体中有意选择的，以确保观点的多样性。通过小组讨论和半结构化访谈指南进行面对面访谈收集数据。访谈会议进行了录音。使用主题方法分析数据。女性的意识和感知风险水平较低。此外，在健康期间进行宫颈癌筛查的感知益处较低。筛查的个体和系统障碍包括意识低下、耻辱感、对健康筛查和宫颈癌原因的看法不佳、风险感知度低以及家庭内部竞争优先事项、缺乏经过培训的人力和其他资源、人力资源流失、筛查计划实施和缺乏密切监测。总之，缺乏意识、误解和不良看法很常见。由于个体、心理社会和系统相关障碍，筛查的实施和参与率较低。因此，需要进行行为改变沟通和加强系统的努力，以有效解决观察到的差距。
