Research Articles

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Browsing Research Articles by Subject "Cervical cancer"

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    Utilization of cervical cancer screening services and associated factors among HIV positive women receiving care at an antiretroviral therapy clinic in Gulu Regional Referral Hospital
    (PAMJ Clinical Medicine, 2022-02-22) Gwokyalya, Ginall Bagala; Ayebazibwe, Ambrose; Kinyera, Cynthia; Nabanoba, Shamirah; Pebalo, Francis Pebolo
    Introduction: cervical cancer is the 3rd most common cancer among women globally,accounting for 7.9% of all cancers in women, and the leading cause of gynecological cancer deathsin low to middle-income countries, resulting in 85% of cancer-related deaths in sub-Saharan Africa. It isknown to be caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Co-infection with HIV makes women more susceptible to premalignant lesions of the cervix and faster progression to cervical cancer.Screening services are relatively low among women living with HIV despite this elevated risk.This study aimed to assess the level of utilization of cervical cancer screening services and associatedfactors among HIV-positive women receiving care at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital. Methods: across-sectional study was conducted among HIVpositive women receiving care at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital antiretroviral therapy clinic. Results: a total of 160 women were recruited; 70(43.75%) had screened at least once and almost half 34 (48.5%) of those that had screened did so because they were aware of being at risk of getting cervical cancer, 33 (47.14%) or knew of someone suffering from cervical cancer. Half 45(50%) of those that had not screened was due to alack of knowledge about cervical cancer screening.However, 83 (92%) of those who had not screened were willing to screen if services were integrated into the ART clinic. The main source of the screening information was from health workers, 47(67.14%), and more than half got screened from government health facilities and 42 (60%). Conclusion: there is a generally low level of utilization of cervical cancer screening services among HIV-positive women. Healthcare providers were the main source of information, this can form the basis of health education including information related to the national cervical cancer screening program among HIV-positive women. Integrationof cervical cancer screening services within the ART clinic will promote utilization among this highly susceptible group