Beliefs, perceptions and health-seeking behaviours in relation to cervical cancer: a qualitative study among women in Uganda following completion of an HPV vaccination campaign

Abstract

BackgroundCervical cancer remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Uganda. Despite earlier information campaigns to introduce human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination, which also targeted cervical cancer, misinterpretation and misunderstanding of the subject remain high. Women in Uganda present with cervical cancer at an advanced stage due to poor health-seeking behaviours, with an associated high mortality rate. This project explored beliefs, attitudes, perceptions, and health-seeking behaviours in relation to cervical cancer among women in Uganda after an HPV vaccination project had been rolled out.DesignA qualitative study design was used, with six focus group discussions (FGDs) that included 36 women, aged 25–49 years, with no previous history of cervical cancer symptoms or diagnosis. The women were interviewed in February and March 2013. The transcribed data was analysed using content analysis.ResultsThree themes emerged: feeling unprotected and unsafe, misbelief and wondering about cervical cancer, and fear of the testing procedure. Participating women had heard of cervical cancer but preferred to wait to access cervical cancer screening until symptom debut.ConclusionsThere are still barriers to cervical cancer screening among women in Uganda, where there is a need for culture-specific, sensitive information and interventions to address the issues of improving the cervical cancer screening uptake among these women. Societal context needs to be taken into account when implementing community-based health education.

Socio-culturally mediated factors and lower level of education are the main influencers of functional cervical cancer literacy among women in Mayuge, Eastern Uganda

“…The prior knowledge literacy level was low among women in Mayuge. This result equally compares well with those by Hasahya et al [13], which found that cervical cancer and other cancers are not well understood, especially in rural Ugandan communities. For instance, there are various beliefs and misperceptions among Ugandan women on cervical cancer: some believe it is an incurable disease, a disease from men, a disease whose cause is unknown and in HPV vaccination as a form of family planning.…”

“…In subjective contexts, the perceived prevalence of a disease risk is a potential motivator of health promoting behaviour that can facilitate better utilisation of cancer prevention, detection and control services [37,38]. Hasahya et al [13] found that cervical cancer and other cancers are not well understood, especially in rural Ugandan communities. Some believe it is an incurable disease, a disease from men, a disease caused by family planning, or that the cause is unknown.…”

“…A qualitative study [13] on beliefs and perceptions among women about cervical cancer using focus group discussions (FGDs) found that cervical cancer and other cancers are not well understood, especially in rural Ugandan communities. For instance, there are various beliefs and misperceptions among Ugandan women about cervical cancer.…”

Creencias sobre el cancer cervicouterino y Papanicolaou y su relación con la adherencia al tamizaje

“…Respecto a las barreras relacionadas con las características del examen, los resultados reportados concuerdan con investigaciones previas donde se señala la vergüenza que genera el examen 14,16,[20][21][22] y el miedo que les provoca el diagnostico de cáncer 4,6,16,23 . En relación a esto último, se ha descrito que hay mujeres que prefieren "no saber de enfermedades que no tienen tratamiento y que pueden llevar a la muerte" 19,22 .…”

miR‑152 may function as an early diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and patients with cervical cancer

“…The persistent infection of high-risk human papillomavirus is associated with a high incidence of cervical cancer (2,3). According to histological phenotypes, cervical cancer is divided into two types: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC; ~80%) and adenocarcinoma (~5-20%) (4). SCC primarily originates from cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), but adenocarcinoma results from intraepithelial adenocarcinoma and glandular dysplasia (5,6).…”