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
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Date
2022-02-22
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
PAMJ Clinical Medicine
Abstract
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
Description
Keywords
Gulu Hospital, Cervical cancer, Integration,, Screening services
Citation
: Gwokyalya Ginall Bagala et al. 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;8(33). 10.11604/pamj-cm.2022.8.33.32889