Role of community health volunteers in promoting uptake of cervical cancer screening among women of reproductive age, Nairobi City, Kenya

Abstract

Background: Cervical cancer is a significant cause of mortality among women, particularly in developing countries. Africa has highest number of cases, with 85% occurring in developing nations. In Nairobi, low uptake of cervical cancer screening has been realized. Study explores role of CHVs in promoting screening, aiming to reduce cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates in Nairobi and similar settings. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study design was used. Stratified random sampling and simple random sampling methods were used. Sample size was 363 CHVs. Data collection involved collection of primary data using a self-administered questionnaire and FGDS. Data analysis was carried out through both descriptive statistics and inferential analysis. Findings were presented in percentages, pie charts. Results: Results indicated that while CHVs can play critical role in counselling women on importance of cervical-cancer screening, significant proportion of respondents had not counselled women on this topic. Similarly, while referrals are an important aspect of promoting cervical-cancer screening, majority of respondents did not refer cases of cervical-cancer screening to other CHVs. Conclusions: Study identified significant social, economic, and cultural barriers that influence cervical cancer screening participation among women. It revealed these barriers affect how CHVs promote screening. Furthermore, considerable health system obstacles hinder effective promotion of this crucial preventive measure.