FACTORS INFLUENCING UTILIZATION OF CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING AMONG

HIV POSITIVE WOMEN IN MBEYA TANZANIA

1, 2

Kilasi S.M , Moshiro C.1, Kishimba R S2, 3, Mghamba J 2,3

1. Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences
2. Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme
3. Ministry of Health and Social Welfare
BACKGROUND
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer affecting women worldwide, after breast,
colorectal, and lung cancers, representing 7.5% of all female cancer deaths it is most
prevalent among the lower-resource countries of sub-Saharan Africa. HIV-infected women
are at least 5 times more likely to be diagnosed with cervical cancer. In Tanzania HIV positive
women screening should be repeated annually regardless of results.
OBJECTIVE
To determinte the factors influencing utilization of cervical cancer screening among HIV
positive women.
METHODS.
A cross sectional study of HIV positive women attending HIV CTC in Mbeya, Tanzania.
Respondents were identified using systematic sampling method. A pretested questionnaire
was used to obtain information on factors influencing utilization of cervical cancer screening
Data was analysed using Epi Info 7 Sotfware . Multivariate logistic regression model was
used to determine independent predictor for acceptance of cervical cancer screening.
RESULTS
Of the 345 respondents who completed questionnaires, 333 (96.5%) were aware of cervical
cancer screening of all respondents 42.7 % took the test. Ninity six percent of unscreened
(190) accepted to be screened. Reasons for not utilising cervical screening services were:
afraid of the results (19%) were un-aware of where to screen cervical cancer (33.8%),
expensive (32.8%) and didnt get time( 30.8%) After controlling for confounding variables in
a multivariate logistic regression model, Perceived Risk of Cervical Cancer (AOR: 2.83; 95%
CI: 1.81-4.41), Awareness of Cervical Cancer screening (AOR=(AOR: 0.19; 95% CI: 0.0130.853), Number of children (AOR: 1.45; 95% CI: 1.03-2.04), retained independent
association with acceptance to screen for cervical cancer.
CONCLUSION
The study findings shows that HIV positive women are willing to screen for cervical cancer
however they perceive themselves as having low risk and their awareness has not been
translted into utilization.