Knowledge and Health Care Seeking Behaviours on Cancer of the Cervix among Rural Women- A Case Study of Isingiro District

Cervical cancer is an abnormal growth of cells in the cervical region of the uterus.  Cancer of the cervix occurs when the cells of the cervix change in a way that leads to unregulated growth and invasion of other tissues or organs of the body. Cancer of the cervix is the most common cancer affecting women in Africa and in the developing countries, second only to breast cancer worldwide(Franco et al 2003). Very few studies on knowledge and health care seeking behaviors have been carried out among women living in rural areas in Africa. Cervical cancer has threatened the lives of women in Uganda leading to other associated long-term problems in families. Keywords: Cancer of the Cervix,Knowledge,Health care seeking behaviours. Aim This study was intended to assess the knowledge of cervical cancer and the related health care seeking practices among the rural women in Isingiro district, south-western Uganda.   Methods It was a community based cross sectional study, involving women of 18 years and above.  The study participants werefirst given an explanation of the study and thereafter, a questionnaire was administered for data collection. The sample size estimated using the formula: N= Z2p (1-p)/ e2. Results According to the study, the knowledge, prevalence of symptoms and predisposing factors to cervical cancer was at 4.62 %( 18/385) and 0.00 %( 0/385) respectively. The study also revealed that; 98.35% (374/385) would accept CaCx screening, 0.33 %( 01/385) had utilized cervical cancer screening facilities and that 97.02 %( 374/385) did not screen due to lack of knowledge on CaCx. There is need to conduct a community based study to know the practices of health workers and assess if they are educating and offering suggestions for screening for cancer of the cervix. The research therefore recommends intervention the relevant stakeholders in the health care system to demystify facts on this disease among rural women, especially in Isingiro district.

Cervical Cancer at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital: Magnitude, Trends, Stages at Presentation, Impact of Acetic Acid Screening and the Need for Radiotherapy Services

Background: Globally, cervical cancer the fourth most common cause of cancer death accountable for approximately 266,000 deaths of women, with sub-Saharan Africa and East Africa having the highest burden. In Uganda about 2,275 new cervical cancer deaths occur annually. The main objective of the study was to describe the magnitude, trends, clinical stage on presentation and show the importance of cervical cancer prevention and radiotherapy services at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. In the first phase of the study, leading cancers at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital were determined.  In the second phase of the study, the burden of cervical cancer on the gynecological ward was determined. In the third part of the study the trends of cervical cancer over a ten year period was determined. In the fourth phase of the study the effects of acetic acid screening on the trends of cervical cancer was determined. Results: With a proportion of 25.2%, cervical cancer is the single leading cancer in the hospital. Cervical cancer contributes 10.1% of all diseases on the gynecological ward and 73.9% of all gynecological cancers.  The frequency of cervical cancer more than doubled between 2006 and 2014) with 60.3% of presenting with late stage. The number of cases of early cervical cancer detected had shown a small but steady increase since 2009. There was a decline in clinic cervical cancer incidence rate from 3.2% in 2009, 0.9% in 2013. Conclusion: Cervical cancer is the leading cancer and also the leading gynecological cancer at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital. Women with cervical cancer are diagnosed late. Screening increases the rate of early detection. Acetic acid screening is effective in reversing the trends of cervical cancer. Expanding cervical cancer preventive services is capable of reducing the burden of cervical. Recommendations: There is need for expansion of HPV vaccination. There is need for expansion of acetic acid cervical cancer screening in southwestern Uganda. There is need for making radiotherapy services more accessible in developing countries. Keywords: Cervical Cancer, Magnitude, Trends, Stages, Impact, Acetic Acid, Screening, Radiotherapy