KNOWLEDGE OF CERVICAL CANCER AND UPTAKE OF CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING AMONG WOMEN AGED 18-45 YEARS AT PARIRENYATWA GROUP OF HOSPITALS, HARARE, ZIMBABWE

Cervical cancer is the most frequent cancer among women aged 15-44 with an estimated prevalence in Zimbabwe of 4.7%.1 About 2270 women are diagnosed yearly and 1451 die from it.1 Screening reduces its incidence though its... [ view full abstract ]

Cervical cancer is the most frequent cancer among women aged 15-44 with an estimated prevalence in Zimbabwe of 4.7%.1 About 2270 women are diagnosed yearly and 1451 die from it.1 Screening reduces its incidence though its success depends on adherence to guidelines.2 Knowledge of health increases uptake of positive healthy behaviours and preventive services.
The study sought to examine the relationship between knowledge of cervical cancer and uptake of cervical cancer screening. We conducted the study at a central hospital in Harare, Zimbabwe after obtaining permission from institutional review boards and the Medical Research Council of Zimbabwe. Participants gave written informed consent. We collected data using a structured questionnaire and a pilot study was done to ensure validity and reliability of the instrument. We used simple random sampling to select 80 participants. We analysed data using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 16. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data.
Uptake of screening was low with only 13 (8.4%) participants having been screened. Knowledge of cervical cancer was very low with a mean score on knowledge of 27%. There was a weak positive correlation (r=0.187) between knowledge and uptake. As knowledge increased uptake of cervical cancer also increased. Regression analysis, (R2), was 0.035. Knowledge of cervical cancer explained 3.5% of the variance observed in uptake of screening. There are more factors that influence uptake of cervical cancer screening. Education of the public is important to improve uptake of screening.
Key words: cervical cancer, screening, knowledge, uptake,
References
1. HPV Information Centre. (2014). Zimbabwe: HPV and Related Cancers, Fact Sheet 2014. Retrieved from http://www.hpvcentre.net/statistics/reports/ZWE_FS.pdf on 11/11/15

2. Busingye et al. (2012). Acceptability of cervical cancer screening. VIAC or Lugol’s iodine at Mulago Hospital, Uganda. International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics. 1119 (3) 262-265