Description
Cervical cancer is the 4th most common cancer in women with an estimated 570,000 new cases in 2018 representing 6.6% of all female cancers. Around 90% of deaths from cervical cancer occur in low- and middle-income countries. The aim of this research was to assess factors affecting uptake of cervical cancer screening among women of reproductive age (15-49years). A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the factors affecting uptake of cervical cancer screening among women attending Samburu County Referral Hospital MCH department, Samburu County, Kenya. Two hundred and twenty-two women were targeted. The sampling method was a simple random sampling. Respondents were reassured of the confidentiality of the data. The instrument used was a semi-structured interview schedule, data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The proportion of women who had cervical cancer screening among women attending the health facility was low 45 (20%). Married women and women above 26 years mostly sought cervical cancer screening. 79.7% never had screening. 58.1% didn’t go for screening due to fear of a positive results. The Study recommended that the County department of health to train all health care workers on cervical cancer screening and to ensure screening was easily available and accessible by having more facilities offering the services. The department of health should conduct awareness drives on cervical cancer and its screening methods and make cervical cancer screening part and parcel of universal health coverage.
Keywords: Cervical Cancer Screening
