Screening for cervical cancer in Senegal: Contributing factors

ABSTRACT

Context Cervical cancer is first cancer in women in Africa. The disease is often diagnosed at a late stage. Aims: The purpose of this survey is to study the factors of cervical cancer screening. Settings and Design: This is a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional survey carried out in the health district of Thiès in Senegal. Subjects and Methods: Sampling was in two-stage clusters. The data were collected during an individual interview at home. The collection focused on knowledge, attitudes, and practices on cervical cancer. Statistical Analysis Used Logistic regression was used for data analysis. Results: A total of 498 women were interviewed; 77% of them lived in urban areas, 38% have not been to school, and 82% were married. Nearly, 82.7% of them have already heard about the disease. Infection was the most reported risk factor (55.8%). The screening practice was 35.5% in our sample. Nonschooling reduced screening, while women living in urban areas were seven times more likely to be screened. Screening increased from the poorest quartile to the richest quartile. The knowledge of risk factors and the possibility of recovery increased by 4.80 and 2.34, respectively, the chance of being screened. Conclusions: Improved screening requires multiple strategies that target particularly poor uneducated people living in rural areas but also the strengthening of the capacity of health-care providers