Data for Uptake of cervical cancer screening and associated factors among women aged 18-49 years attending care at Malindi sub county hospital in Coastal Kenya

Abstract Background Though preventable, cervical cancer is regarded as the fourth most common cancer in women globally and a major public health concern especially in low and medium income countries. Although there are efforts to improve cervical cancer screening in Kenya, documentation of the prevalence of cervical cancer during screening has been limited therefore hindering planning of targeted interventions. We aimed to determine the prevalence and correlates of cervical cancer screening among women aged 18 - 49 years attending care at Malindi sub County hospital in Coastal Kenya. Methods An analytical cross-sectional design was used. In brief, women attending HIV comprehensive care clinic (CCC), maternal child health and family planning clinic (MCH/FP) and outpatient department (OPD) between 25th February and 13th April 2015 were recruited using systematic random sampling and interviewed using an interviewer-administered questionnaire (n = 315). Consenting women aged between 18 and 49 years who had not undergone hysterectomy were eligible. Proportion of women reporting cervical cancer screening uptake was calculated and binomial exact 95% CI determined. Logistic regression was used to examine associations between cervical cancer screening uptake and sociodemographic characteristics. Results Overall, 56 (17.8% [95% CI: 13.7 – 22.5]) participants reported to have been screened for cervical cancer. Factors associated with uptake of cervical cancer screening included older age (adjusted odds ratios, aOR [95% CI], p – value: 2.3 [1.0 – 5.0], p = 0.034), having secondary/tertiary level of education (adjusted odds ratios, aOR [95% CI], p – value: 3.3 [1.6 – 6.5], p Conclusion The uptake of cervical cancer screening was low in this population compared to recommended international target. Older women as well as the educated and those with history of STI had higher odds of reporting to have been screened. Programs aiming to scale up cervical cancer screening uptake in this population need to pay attention to women who are young, uneducated and with no history of STI.