Factors Affecting the Uptake of Cervical Cancer Screening in Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

Cervical malignancy afflicts women of all societies. In Kenya, 4,802 women are diagnosed with cervical malignancy and almost 2500 die annually with only 3.2% of cervical screening uptake. The Main goal of this study was to find out the factors that contribute to the uptake of cervical screening at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital. This was a descriptive and cross-sectional study that used a purposeful sampling method. An interview-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from women and hospital key informants. Multivariate regression was used to analyse associations between study variables. A total of 246 participants were recruited. Uptake of cervical screening was 23.1%, with 83.6% being aware of cervical cancer. Fear of results (69.5%), lack of information (69.8%) and fear of the screening procedure (65.2%) were major cervical screening barriers. Free cervical screening (93.5%) comprehensive cancer health education (90.2%), voluntary cervical screening centres (84.9%), mass media cervical cancer campaigns (83.3%) and cervical cancer screening mobile clinics (81.7%) to be the likely motivators to cervical screening uptake. Multivariate regression showed that older women participated more in uptake than young women (p = 0.001), those who had used contraceptives (p=0.001) and those with higher income (p = 0.03). In conclusion, there was a low uptake of screening for cervical cancer disease. A comprehensive and appropriate sensitization program is required, which eventually may increase uptake of cervical screening.