Cervical cancer screening service utilization and associated factors among HIV positive women attending adult ART clinic in public health facilities, Hawassa town, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundIn Ethiopia, cervical cancer is a public health concern, as it is the second most cause of cancer deaths among reproductive age women and it affects the country’s most vulnerable groups like; rural, poor, and HIV-positive women. Despite the strong evidence that cervical cancer screening results in decreased mortality from this disease, its utilization remains low.MethodsAn institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2 to April 1/2019 to assess the level and factors affecting utilization of cervical cancer screening among HIV positive women in Hawassa town. Quantitative data collection methods were used. Data were gathered using a structured and pretested questionnaire. Epi-Info version 7 and SPSS version 23 were used for data entry and analysis respectively. Statistically significant association of variables was determined based on Adjusted Odds ratio with its 95% confidence interval and p-value of ≤0.05.ResultsOf the 342 women interviewed, 40.1% (95% CI: 35.00, 45.33%) of them were screened. Having a post primary education (AOR = 5.1, 95% CI: 1.8, 14.5), less than 500 cell/mm3 CD4 count (AOR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.2, 5.9); duration since HIV diagnosis (AOR = 4.2, 95% CI: 2.1, 8.5), partner support (AOR = 4.7, 95% CI: 2.3, 9.4), having knowledge about risk factors (AOR = 2.9 (95% CI: 1.2, 6.9) and having favorable attitude towards cervical cancer and its screening (AOR = 3.7 (95% CI: 1.8, 7.5) were associated with cervical cancer screening utilization.ConclusionsThe study revealed utilization of cervical cancer screening service was low among HIV positive women. Educational status, duration of HIV diagnosis, partner support, knowledge status about risk factor, CD4 count and attitude towards cervical cancer and its screening were associated with cervical cancer screening utilization. Health care workers need to provide intensive counseling services for all ART care attendants to increase utilization.

Prevalence and genotype distribution of human papillomavirus in women living with HIV/AIDS in an area of Northeast Brazil

“…Only the variable having 0 to 8 years of schooling was independently associated with a higher likelihood of having HPV infection, and this finding is in agreement with other Brazilian study 9 . Low education has been an important barrier to preventive measures for HPV infection, just as low education has been associated with difficulties in accessing screening tests for cervical cancer 21,22 …”

Uptake of cervical cancer screening service and associated factors among age-eligible women in Ethiopia: systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Primarily, among 24 studies, two case-control studies [24,41] were not considered in the prevalence estimation. Additionally, three studies [20,22,26] were excluded from prevalence estimation after checking funnel plot and the significance of Egger's regression test. But, they were not excluded from meta-analysis for risk factors.…”

Determining behavioral intention and its predictors towards cervical cancer screening among women in Gomma district, Jimma, Ethiopia: Application of the theory of planned behavior

“…Despite this case, the findings of a study conducted in different settings indicated that there was low uptake of cervical cancer screening services [9][10][11][12][13][14]. Lack of awareness, poor attitude towards cervical cancer screening, and poor perception of the severity of the disease were some of the factors for not up taking the screening service.…”