Abstract

Cancer cases have increased over the years, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, perhaps due to a rise in incidence or improvements
in diagnosis. Cervical cancer was the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in Uganda, which is projected to
continue increasing. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection and the primary underlying
cause of cervical cancer. Several risk factors are associated with HPV transmission and cervical cancer, and having good
knowledge about them can significantly contribute to the fight against cervical cancer. In this descriptive study, which involved
150 participants and utilized questionnaires, we assessed the factors affecting cervical cancer screening among youth in Ishaka.
According to the study, having multiple sexual partners was identified by the respondents as having the highest risk for cervical
cancer. A significant majority, 85.23% of the youths, mentioned that having multiple sexual partners increased the chances of
contracting cervical cancer, followed by early sexual debut (76.17%), smoking (42.28%), sexual contact with uncircumcised
males (30.87%), and lastly, obesity (18.46%). Despite 254 respondents (85.23%) mentioning having multiple sexual partners as
a risk factor, only 210 (70.46%) believed it was transmissible through sexual activity, and 246 (82.55%) believed that there was
an organism responsible. Of those, only 182 correctly mentioned HPV, 15 (5.03%) believed Trichomonas vaginalis was
responsible, and 49 of the 246 respondents did not know the organism responsible. These findings indicate that while
participants had heard about cervical cancer, they did not possess sufficient understanding of the disease to prompt them to
improve their health-seeking behavior regarding cervical cancer screening. The knowledge of youths in Ishaka concerning
cervical cancer and cervical cancer screening was found to be above average, likely attributable to the education level attained
by most of the participants. However, the utilization of cervical cancer screening services by youths remains very poor and
calls for timely and appropriate interventions.