Cervical Cancer Screening and Knowledge of Cervical Cancer Risk Factors among Women of Reproductive Age in Juja Sub-County, Kenya

Abstract

Purpose: To examine cervical cancer screening and knowledge of cervical cancer risk factors among women of reproductive age in Juja sub-county, Kenya

Methodology: The survey adopted a descriptive cross-sectional study design. The targeted sample was 422 women aged 18-49 years in selected households. Multistage sampling was used to select the respondents. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were utilized in gathering quantitative data while FGDs facilitated collection of qualitative data. Binary logistic regression and chi square tests were used in data analysis. Odds ratio (OR), level of significance at 95% and chi square were used interpret the results. The investigator processed the data using SPSS software version 20.

Findings: There was significant statistical difference between knowledge level of cervical cancer risk factors and screening (P=0.017). Knowledge level of risk factors for cervical cancer was a significant predictor for having a cervical cancer screen (P=0.022). Respondents who had least knowledge level on risk factor to cervical cancer were about 14 times more likely to be unscreened as compared to those who had highest knowledge level [OR, 17.40 (95% CI: 1.510, 200.6) P-value 0.02.

Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: Department of health in Kiambu county government should introduce policies which help to increase rate of screening for cervical cancer by initiating public knowledge of risk factors for the disease