https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7822-1821
Abstract
Background
Cervical cancer, mainly attributed to persistent infection with a high-risk oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV), is one of the most common types of women’s cancer globally, with more than 90% of new cases occurring in developing and resource-limited countries. In Ethiopia, cervical cancer ranks as the most frequent cancer among women and cause for 4732 deaths annually.
Objective
To assess knowledge, attitude, practice towards screening on cervical cancer and associated factors among women aged 15–49 years in Adigrat town, northern Tigray Ethiopia.
Methods
A community based quantitative study design was conducted among 617 samples in Adigrat town, northern Tigray Ethiopia. Data were collected using a structured, semi-structured, and pre-tested questionnaire. Associations between dependent and independent variables were tested using logistic regression with the assumptions of p-values <0.05 and confidence interval 95% and considered to be statistically significant.
Results
This study indicated that 46.4%, 53.3%, 38.1% of participants had knowledge, positive attitude, and screened on cervical cancer, respectively. Diploma and above [AOR=3.7, 95% CI (1.443, 9.433) were significant factors associated with knowledge of cervical cancer screening utilization. Primary school (1–8) [AOR=2.7, 95% CI (1.297, 5.699)], greater than 500 ETB household income [AOR = 4.8, 95% CI (2.783, 8.577)] were significant factors associated with attitude of cervical cancer screening utilization. Secondary school (9–12) [AOR = 3.4, 95% CI (1.565, 7.458)], not knowledgeable of cervical cancer [AOR = 1.8, 95% CI (1.156, 2.698)] were significant factors associated with practice of cervical cancer screening utilization.
Conclusion
Factors like age, educational status, anyone knowing with cervical cancer and ever received cancer information had a significant association with knowledge of cervical cancer screening utilization. Educational status and perceived income of the household had a significant association with an attitude of cervical cancer screening utilization. Educational status perceived income of the household, anyone knowing with cervical cancer, ever received cancer information, and knowledge of cervical cancer screening utilization were predictors of cervical cancer screening practice.
Abbreviations
AIDS, acquired immunodeficiency virus; AOD, adjusted odds ratio; Cc, cervical cancer; COD, crude odds ratio; ETB, Ethiopian Birr; HH, household; HIV, human immunodeficiency virus; HPV, human papilloma-virus; MPH, master’s in public health; ROC, receiver operating characteristic; STD, sexually transmitted disease; STI, sexually transmitted infections; TRHB, Tigray Regional Health Bureau; VIF, variance inflation factor.
Data Sharing Statement
Data produced or analyzed during this study are included in this published paper. The datasets can be requested to the corresponding author.
Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate
Ethical clearance was permitted by the Ethical Review Board of Adigrat University, College of Medicine, and Health Sciences with the reference number of Notification of Expedited Approval ERC 1321/2019. Every precaution took to protect the privacy of research subjects and the confidentiality of their personal information. The data collector checked whether the study participants had a relationship or not. Participation by individuals capable of giving informed consent as subjects in this research were voluntary. Written informed consent was gotten from every participant for 18 years old and above whereas written informed consent was obtained from a parent or guardian for participants 15-17 years old. Participants capable of giving informed consent, each potential subject was adequately informed of the aims, methods, sources of funding, any possible conflicts of interest, and institutional affiliations of the researcher. The potential subject was informed of the right to refuse to participate in the study or to withdraw consent to participate at any time without reprisal. After ensuring that the potential subject understood the information, the data collector appropriately qualified individuals should seek the potential subject’s freely-given informed consent, preferably in writing. The collected data did not comprise identifying information, and the collected data were used for this study only.
Consent for Publication
Consent of publication for this research is Adigrat University, College of Medicine and Health Science, public health department, and participants.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to acknowledge the Adigrat University College of Health Science for ethical approval. We also would like to thank our acknowledgment to data gatherers and the study participants because without them the whole part will be meaningless. Adigrat University has economically supported the process of data collection.
Author Contributions
All authors made substantial contributions to conception and design, acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data; took part in drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content; agreed to submit to the current journal; gave final approval of the version to be published; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
Disclosure
The authors report no conflicts of interest for this work.