Ekinu Jimmy, Ayikobua Emmanuel Tiyo, Icodu Elizabeth, Akurut Hellen, Akot Olympia Olivia, Oder Steven, Opinya John Micheal, Egau Tonny, Aderu David, Eremu Moses, Odongo James Daniel, Erabu Walter Dreak, Opito Ronald
Department of Public Health, School of Health Sciences, Soroti University, Soroti, Uganda.
Department of Physiology, School of Health Sciences, Soroti University, Soroti, Uganda.
Int J Womens Health. 2025 Aug 21;17:2603-2611. doi: 10.2147/IJWH.S541935. eCollection 2025.
Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) faces persistently low cervical cancer screening uptake, averaging only 13% over the past five years, with Uganda reporting less than 5%. This study aimed to assess the factors influencing cervical cancer screening uptake in a rural district hospital to inform targeted interventions that enhance screening coverage for the rural community.
This was a cross-sectional study conducted at Kaberamaido General Hospital (KGH) outpatient department. A total of 422 participants aged between 25 and 49 years were interviewed and data analyzed using STATA version 16.0. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed using modified Poisson regression with robust error estimates to identify key factors associated with cervical cancer screening uptake. Variables with P-value <0.05 were considered statistically significant.
The average age of participants was 32 (SD ±7) years. 77.5% (n=327) of participants were married, had primary level of education, 69.2% (n=292), and were unemployed, 89.3% (n=377). Awareness about screening was high as 85.5% (n=360) of respondents had heard about cervical cancer screening. Cervical cancer screening uptake was low, as only 20.4% (n=86) had been screened in the past five years. Factors significantly associated with increased screening uptake, including age older than 35 years, adjusted Prevalence Ratio [aPR]= 1.7 (95% CI: 1.08-2.69), availability of free government screening services, aPR = 1.6 (95% CI: 1.09-2.38), provision of screening service at the nearest health facility, aPR = 2.1 (95% CI: 1.09-3.97), and a positive family history of cervical cancer, aPR = 1.7 (95% CI: 1.14-2.65).
Our study confirms that cervical cancer screening uptake in Kaberamaido District remains low, highlighting the need for enhanced awareness campaigns and improved access to screening services. Our findings emphasize the need for policies that strengthen community outreach programs and expand cervical cancer screening services at primary healthcare facilities.
撒哈拉以南非洲地区宫颈癌筛查的参与率一直很低，过去五年平均仅为13%，乌干达的报告显示该比例低于5%。本研究旨在评估影响农村地区医院宫颈癌筛查参与率的因素，为有针对性的干预措施提供依据，以提高农村社区的筛查覆盖率。
这是一项在卡贝拉马伊多综合医院门诊部进行的横断面研究。共对422名年龄在25至49岁之间的参与者进行了访谈，并使用STATA 16.0版本对数据进行分析。采用修正泊松回归并结合稳健误差估计进行二元和多变量分析，以确定与宫颈癌筛查参与率相关的关键因素。P值<0.05的变量被认为具有统计学意义。
参与者的平均年龄为32岁（标准差±7）。77.5%（n = 327）的参与者已婚，69.2%（n = 292）接受过小学教育，89.3%（n = 377）失业。对筛查的知晓率较高，85.5%（n = 360）的受访者听说过宫颈癌筛查。宫颈癌筛查参与率较低，过去五年中只有20.4%（n = 86）的人接受过筛查。与筛查参与率增加显著相关的因素包括年龄大于35岁，调整后的患病率比[aPR]= 1.7（95%置信区间：1.08 - 2.69），政府提供免费筛查服务，aPR = 1.6（95%置信区间：1.09 - 2.38），在最近的医疗机构提供筛查服务，aPR = 2.1（95%置信区间：1.09 - 3.97），以及有宫颈癌家族史阳性，aPR = 1.7（95%置信区间：1.14 - 2.65）。
我们的研究证实，卡贝拉马伊多区的宫颈癌筛查参与率仍然很低，突出了加强宣传活动和改善筛查服务可及性的必要性。我们的研究结果强调了需要制定政策，加强社区外展项目，并在初级医疗保健机构扩大宫颈癌筛查服务。
