Abstract
HIV-infected women are at high risk of developing cervical cancer and are encouraged to undergo cervical cancer screening regularly. However, very little has been documented about the knowledge of cervical cancer and the utilization of the screening services by these women. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge of cervical cancer, prevalence of cervical cancer screening uptake and predictive factors that affect utilization of cervical cancer screening services among HIV-infected women. The study employed quantitative methods for data collection and analysis. It was conducted at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) from December 2017 to February 2018 where HIV-positive patients accessing QECH Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) clinic were recruited. Systematic random sampling was employed to select HIV-positive women for the survey. Data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires. STATA version 12 was used to analyze the data. Out of the 196 recruited women, the majority (98%; n = 192) indicated having heard of cervical cancer and of the 192 women, only 57% (n = 109) were able to know at least a single sign/symptom of cervical cancer, furthermore, only 47% (n = 91) indicated ever been screened, finally, getting information from health facilities and knowing at least a single sign/symptom of cervical cancer influenced HIV-infected women to go for cervical cancer screening services. The study revealed that knowledge of cervical cancer and the utilization of its screening services among HIV-infected women is low. Therefore, there is need to increase knowledge and strengthen cervical cancer screening services among HIV-infected women in the country.
Highlights
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide
This study aimed to investigate the knowledge of cervical cancer, prevalence of cervical cancer screening uptake and predictive factors that affect utilization of cervical cancer screening services among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected women
Out of the 196 recruited women, the majority (98%; n = 192) indicated having heard of cervical cancer and of the 192 women, only 57% (n = 109) were able to know at least a single sign/symptom of cervical cancer, only 47% (n = 91) indicated ever been screened, getting information from health facilities and knowing at least a single sign/symptom of cervical cancer influenced HIV-infected women to go for cervical cancer screening services
Summary
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide. Every year more than 270,000 women die from cervical cancer globally and more than 85% of these deaths are in low and middle income countries because of poor access to screening and treatment services [1]. According to World Cancer Research Fund, among the 20 African countries with high incidence of cervical cancer, Malawi had the highest cervical cancer age standardized incidence rate of 75.9/100,000 women in 2012 [2]. The burden of cervical cancer in Malawi is severe with the estimates of about three thousand, six hundred and eighty-four (3684) cases diagnosed annually of which two thousand, three hundred and fourteen (2314) women die from this disease annually [3]. In 2007-2010 cervical cancer was the commonest cancer among women which accounted for 45.5% of the cancer cases [4]. At least 80% of the cervical cancer cases are present in inoperable stages II-IV, and most of them die [3]
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