Individual Attributes Influencing Cervical Cancer Screening Services in Selected Health Facilities in Machakos County

Abstract

In Kenya, 51.2% of estimated women population of 11 million aged 15 years and older are at risk of developing cervical cancer. Research shows that screening a woman even once between the ages of 35 and 40 years reduces her lifetime risk of cervical cancer by 25–36%. However, the effective cervical cancer screening in developing countries is as low as 18.5%. Low levels of utilization of Cervical Cancer Screening Services (CCSS) among health care workers have been documented. This study sought to determine the utilization of cervical cancer screening services by healthcare workers (HCWs) in selected health facilities in Machakos County. It was also thought imperative to determine individual HCW attributes influencing utilization of cervical cancer screening services in selected health care facilities in the county. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional study design involving 271 female health workers drawn from all the level 4 and level 5 facilities within the county. Respondents were stratified according to level of facility and according to their cadres. Data was collected via self-administered questionnaires and a facility assessment tool. Data analysis used SPSS version 21. Association was subjected to binary logistic regression. Only 25% of HCWs had utilized cervical cancer screening services. HCWs who had certificate (OR = 0.05, p-value < 0.01), diploma (OR = 0.04, p-value < 0.01) and degrees (OR = 0.09, p-value = 0.01) were less likely to utilize CCSS as compared to HWCs who had attained graduate studies or higher. Also health workers aged 30 years and below (OR = 0.12, p-value = 0.01) and those aged between 31 and 40 years (OR = 0.30, p-value = 0.05) were less likely to utilize CCSS as compared to healthcare workers who were aged more than 50 years. The study recommends establishment of tailor-made sensitization programs on young female health care worker aimed at increasing their uptake of CCSS services among these group.