Communities’ perceptions towards cervical cancer and its screening in Wolaita zone, southern Ethiopia: A qualitative study
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Authors
Demissie, Birhanu Wondimeneh
Azeze, Gedion Asnake
Asseffa, Netsanet Abera
Lake, Eyasu Alem
Besha, Befekadu Bekele
Gelaw, Kelemu Abebe
Mokonnon, Taklu Marama
Gebeyehu, Natnael Atnafu
Obsa, Mohammed Suleiman
Issue Date
2022-01-07
Type
Article
Language
en_US
Keywords
Perceptions , Cervical Cancer , Qualitative Study
Alternative Title
Abstract
Background:
Cervical cancer is a malignant neoplasm from cells originating in the cervix uteri. Any woman who is sexually active is at risk of getting HPV. Women in sub-Saharan Africa region have higher chance of developing the disease. There are nearly 26 million Ethiopian women who are over the age of 15 and believed to be at risk of getting HPV. Regrettably, Ethiopian women typically present for cervical cancer care at a late stage in the disease, where treatment is most ineffective.
Objectives:
To explore communities’ perceptions of cervical cancer and screening among women in Wolaita zone, southern Ethiopia.
Methods:
A qualitative research using focused group discussions and in-depth interviews was used to explore communities’ perceptions of cervical cancer and screening among women in Wolaita zone, southern Ethiopia from March 2018-November 2019. The study participants were men, women and communities who were residents of the study settings and were not health professionals. All focused group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews were transcribed and entered into Microsoft Word and thematic content analysis was done.
Results:
A total of fifty-nine participants participated in both FGD (three with men and six with women) and in-depth interviews (IDIs). Most participants have not heard about cervical cancer but know cancer in general. Participants mentioned that the disease usually relates to many births and unprotected sexual intercourse but none mentioned HPV infection. Most of the participants perceive that cervical cancer is incurable and assume that it could be prevented but they think they are not vulnerable to the disease and screening is not necessary.
Conclusion:
This study indicates that rural communities in the zone had limited knowledge about cervical cancer and even less about risk factors, screening, treatment and prevention. There is a great need for cancer education and prevention in Ethiopia.
Description
Citation
Demissie, B. W., Azeze, G. A., Asseffa, N. A., Lake, E. A., Besha, B. B., Gelaw, K. A., Mokonnon, T. M., Gebeyehu, N. A., & Obsa, M. S. (2022). Communities' perceptions towards cervical cancer and its screening in Wolaita zone, southern Ethiopia: A qualitative study. PloS one, 17(1), e0262142. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0262142
Publisher
PloS One