Factors Affecting Cervical Cancer Screening Among Women Of Child Bearing Age, Attending Intermediate Hospital Oshakati (Iho), Oshana Region, Namibia: A Case-Control Study

ABSTRACT

Cervical cancer is the second most prevalent cancer among women after breast cancer, in

Namibia. Human Papilloma Virus is the significant cause of cervical cancer prevalence worldwide

with an estimation of 99.7%. The World Health Organisation (WHO) predict that Cervical

cancer will kill >443,000 women worldwide every year by 2030, nearly 90% of them in Sub-

Saharan Africa. Nevertheless, cervical cancer is potentially preventable through HPV

vaccination, early diagnosis of pre-invasive cancer cells and early diagnosis of proven cases of

cervical cancer neoplasia. Cervical cancer screening and early treatment of pre-invasive

cervical cancer remain the most effective ways to reduce cervical cancer mortalities. A

significant number of women in Oshana region do not utilize the cervical cancer screening

services despite a well-established free cervical cancer screening programme in the region .This

study examined factors associated with cervical cancer screening and determined associations

between cervical cancer screening and identified factors.

An unmatched 1:1 case control study was conducted on 207 cases and 207 controls. A case

was defined as any woman aged 15-49 years, seeking services at Intermediate Hospital

Oshakati ante-natal clinic during the study period, and never had cervical cancer screening in

her life time. A control was any woman aged 15-49 years, seeking services at Intermediate

Hospital Oshakati ante-natal clinic during the study period, had cervical cancer screening in

her life time. Data were collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire between

September and October 2017. Data were analysed with Epi-info 7.2. Bivariate analysis was

conducted to determine the odds ratio at 95% CI. Factors which were significant at p-value