Factors influencing utilization of cervical cancer screening services among women attending antenatal care at St. Joseph's hospital, Kitgum.

Abstract

The general objective of the study was to examine the factors affecting utilization of cancer screening services in St. Joseph‟s Hospital Kitgum. The study was guided by the following objectives: to establish the socio demographic factors affecting cervical cancer screening at St. Joseph‟s Hospital Kitgum; to determine the institutional factors that influence cervical cancer screening from St. Joseph‟s Hospital Kitgum and to determine the personal factors affecting the utilization of cervical cancer screening in St. Joseph‟s Hospital. A cross sectional research design was used. The study predominantly employed a quantitative approach but also use a qualitative approach. The study population consisted of 112 participants. A sample size of 86 respondents was selected. A simple random technique was used for women seeking cancer screening services in St. Joseph‟s Hospital Kitgum except for the health officials who were selected purposively. Quantitative data analysis mainly consisted of descriptive statistics (percentages) and inferential statistics (Pearson correlation, coefficient of determination and regression). Findings revealed a significant positive significant influence (50%) of social background factors on utilization of cervical cancer screening. institutional factors had a significant positive influence (64.8%) on utilization of cervical cancer screening, whilst personal factors negatively influenced the utilization of cervical cancer screening. It was concluded that both social background factors and institutional factors had a positive influence on utilization of cervical cancer screening, whilst personal factors were the most hindering factors to utilization of cervical cancer screening in St. Joseph‟s Hospital. It is recommended that there a need to re-in force a comprehensive health education and cervical screening programme to target women in rural communities and to ensure the success of the cervical screening programme.