Factors Associated with Cancer Screening Practices among Women in Kitale Municipality

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess cervical cancer screening practice and factors associated with cervical cancer screening among women in Kitale Municipality. Methodology: A cross-sectional study using stratified simple sampling to select a sample of 422 women aged 30-69 years old was adopted. A Structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Data entry and coding was done in SPSS v20. Subsequent content analysis was used to descriptively summarize and compute proportions, mean and standard deviation in reporting    socio-demographic data. To test the association between dependent and independent variables, Chi-square was used while Multiple Logistic Regression analysis was used to generate adjusted odds ratios of association. Data was presented in form of tables and figures. Findings: Findings suggest that 76% (321) knew about cervical cancer screening. Results revealed that only 27% (114) had ever gone for cervical cancer screening. There was a crude significant association between awareness of cervical cancer risk factors and screening (OR=1.08, p=0.000). Awareness therefore encouraged screening. Unawareness of cervical cancer risk factors & screening tests available, low socio-economic status and socio-demographic factors were associated with low screening practice.  In conclusion, this study found that there was modest awareness about cervical cancer but low screening practice among women in this Municipality. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study recommends scale up for cervical cancer awareness and screening campaigns by stakeholders. The current study has added knowledge that will be used by stakeholders advocating for cervical cancer awareness and screening that will aid in uptake important in early detection and treatment of cervical cancer cases, and hence reducing case morbidity and mortality.