Abstract

PURPOSE: To determine the demographic and economic factors associated with cervical cancer screening among women in Isiolo County, Kenya.

METHODOLOGY: A community based cross-sectional study. The study included 444 women aged 15-65 years drawn from six community units in Isiolo County. Multistage cluster sampling was used to draw a sample from the community units and household levels. Data was collected using a questionnaire administered by a research assistant. The questionnaire consisted of the demographic and economic factors associated with uptake of cervical cancer screening. Descriptive statistics, cross tabulations and multivariate logistic regressions were used in data analysis.

FINDINGS: Among the 444 eligible women 81(18.2%) had ever been screened for cervical cancer. The significant determinants of screening included residence (OR=0.012, CI 95% [0.002-0.06] P-p<0.001); education (OR=0.31, CI 95% [0.107-0.895] p<0.05); Occupation (OR=0.142, CI 95% [0.031-0.66] P-Value=0.013); and perception by the respondents that screening is expensive (OR=0.112 CI 95% [0.04-0.309] P-Value<0.001).

CONCLUSION: Uptake of cervical cancer screening at Isiolo county is significantly low. This study identified the demographic factors of screening as area of residence and education level. Occupation and the respondents’ opinion that screening is expensive were found to reduce chances of screening among the women. Many of the participants however expressed their willingness to be screened if the service was offered for free. Intensifying health education and community awareness is recommended to equip the women with accurate information regarding cervical cancer and screening.

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