Abstract

This work aimed to determine the factors influencing uptake of cervical cancer screening services among women
attending gynecologic OPD at KIUTH, Ishaka-Bushenyi, South-western Uganda. A cross sectional study design
and Quantitative approach was used. 100 women attending gynecologic OPD at KIUTH were selected using Kish
Leslie formular. Data collected using a questionnaire was entered and analyzed using SPSS, presented in frequency,
percentage and P-values tables. 41.2% were aged 25-31 years and the minority 2.0% being >45 years. 65.7% coming
away from Ishaka; married 73.7% for 1-5 or 11-20 years each accounting for 32.5%. 37.4% while 30(30.3%) reached
tertiary education level. 42.4% were unemployed whereas 7.1% were simply housewives. 50.0% had 2-4 children,
and only 18.3% had <2 children. 86.9% were aware while 13.1% who weren’t. 56.8% got their information concerning
cervical cancer and its screening from health facility compared to 3.7% from press. 34.7% had knowledge on
screening recommendation among adult women who specified it being 22.1% every three years and 12.6% yearly.
88.4% specified it to be treatable if detected early with a P-value=<0.01*, 73.5% knows a local health facility offering
the services; p-value=0.05, 53(62.4%) of 62.2% claim that results return time could influence the testing uptake, pvalue=
0.18, also, 89.2% agreed that Recommendation/counseling affects the uptake of cervical cancer
screening/testing p-Value=0.05, as well as having tested before 43.4% already tested had a p-value=0.05. Long
distance to HF affects 75.9% aware of screening of 77.1% p-value=0.49, cervical test cost affect with 75.6% aware of
the services p-value=0.55, and Gender of HW where 39.5% who were aware of the services out of 47.5% agreed that
it affects uptake p-value=<0.001. According to the study findings, awareness/knowledge of cervical cancer
screening/testing services among women attending KIUTH stands at 86.9%; whose info is mostly from health
facility and Television/Radio. Early detection; availing of local health facility, short results return time,
Recommendation/counselling and having tested before increases uptake whereas the long distance to the health
facility, cervical test cost and longest distances reduces uptake of cervical cancer and screening services/testing.
Keywords: Cervical cancer, Screening services, Healthy facility, Women, OPD.