Understanding Female Patients' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Cervical Cancer Screening at Comboni Hospital

Cervical cancer stands as the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in Uganda, with a prevalence rate of 48/100,000, one of the world's highest. Tragically, over 80% of cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage, limiting treatment options. Early detection through screening among women aged 25 and above, followed by prompt treatment, can prevent most cases. This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices concerning cervical cancer screening among female patients at Comboni Hospital. Conducted as a cross-sectional descriptive study, it involved 350 women aged 20-49 seeking healthcare services at the hospital. Data collection employed a pretested questionnaire, and analysis utilized IBM SPSS version 25. The respondents, with a mean age of 31.73 years, were predominantly married (76.6%) and self-employed (42.9%), with 22.3% having completed tertiary education. While 92.3% were aware of cervical cancer, only 46% had contemplated undergoing screening, and merely 26.3% had been screened. Media served as the primary information source for 53.7% of participants, and half of those screened did so due to healthcare workers' advice. Barriers to screening included high costs (27.7%), fear of positive results (14.6%), and apprehension about the screening process itself (14.3%). Despite a high level of awareness about cervical cancer, low screening uptake was attributed to the expense and unavailability of services. To improve access, the government should decentralize screening services to lower-tier health centers by training and equipping lower-level healthcare workers, particularly midwives. This strategy aims to overcome barriers and enhance screening accessibility for a larger population. Keywords: knowledge, attitude, practice, cervical cancer.