Research Article | | Peer-Reviewed

Cervical Cancer Screening Barriers Among HIV Positive Women Attending ART Clinic at Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A Qualitative Study

Received: 9 February 2024    Accepted: 27 February 2024    Published: 13 March 2024
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Abstract

Background: Cervical cancer is the most common cause of morbidity and death among female cancer patients globally, particularly in poor nations like Ethiopia. It is a preventable, non-communicable disease of public health relevance. In Ethiopia, women's acceptance of the services for cervical cancer screening and treatment is low and poorly recorded. The goal of the current study is to investigate the obstacles that HIV-positive women face while trying to use cervical cancer screening. Objective: To investigate cervical cancer screening barriers among HIV positive women at Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College, Ethiopia, 2021. Methods: Between April and June of 2021, a qualitative study was carried out with women who tested positive for HIV and were enrolled in the ART clinic at Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College. At the time of the study, HIV-positive women and medical professionals were purposefully chosen from an ART clinic. In all, 14 patients and 9 healthcare professionals participated in the study. A schedule for in-depth interviews were used to gather data. Analysis was done by using atlas ti computer software. Result: The risk factors and symptoms of cervical cancer were not well known to the respondents. Women have identified several factors that impact their use of cervical screening: inadequate knowledge of the significance of screenings, perceptions of the seriousness of cervical cancer, the separation of the screening location from ART, having conflicting concerns, and emotional barriers like anxiety about a positive result, embarrassment, and shame anticipation. These same problems were recognized by healthcare professionals as obstacles to cervical screening. Conclusion: This study offers extensive data on the various complex reasons why women do not participate in cervical cancer screening programs. Consequently, it is crucial to develop interventions that can address and reduce these barriers.

Published in Journal of Family Medicine and Health Care (Volume 10, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.jfmhc.20241001.11
Page(s) 1-10
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Cervical Cancer, Screening, HIV, VIA, HPV

References
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[2] Eshete M, Abdulwuhab Atta M, Yeshita HY. Cervical Cancer Screening Acceptance among Women in Dabat District, Northwest Ethiopia, 2017: An Institution-Based Cross-Sectional Study. Obstetrics and Gynecology International. 2020; 2020.
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Kebede, H. A., Bekele, G. E., Gebrehiwot, E. M., Kitesa, G., Derbew, A. (2024). Cervical Cancer Screening Barriers Among HIV Positive Women Attending ART Clinic at Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A Qualitative Study. Journal of Family Medicine and Health Care, 10(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfmhc.20241001.11

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    ACS Style

    Kebede, H. A.; Bekele, G. E.; Gebrehiwot, E. M.; Kitesa, G.; Derbew, A. Cervical Cancer Screening Barriers Among HIV Positive Women Attending ART Clinic at Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A Qualitative Study. J. Fam. Med. Health Care 2024, 10(1), 1-10. doi: 10.11648/j.jfmhc.20241001.11

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    AMA Style

    Kebede HA, Bekele GE, Gebrehiwot EM, Kitesa G, Derbew A. Cervical Cancer Screening Barriers Among HIV Positive Women Attending ART Clinic at Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A Qualitative Study. J Fam Med Health Care. 2024;10(1):1-10. doi: 10.11648/j.jfmhc.20241001.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.jfmhc.20241001.11,
      author = {Habtimer Abi Kebede and Getabalew Endazenew Bekele and Ephriam Mamo Gebrehiwot and Garoma Kitesa and Ayelign Derbew},
      title = {Cervical Cancer Screening Barriers Among HIV Positive Women Attending ART Clinic at Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A Qualitative Study},
      journal = {Journal of Family Medicine and Health Care},
      volume = {10},
      number = {1},
      pages = {1-10},
      doi = {10.11648/j.jfmhc.20241001.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfmhc.20241001.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jfmhc.20241001.11},
      abstract = {Background: Cervical cancer is the most common cause of morbidity and death among female cancer patients globally, particularly in poor nations like Ethiopia. It is a preventable, non-communicable disease of public health relevance. In Ethiopia, women's acceptance of the services for cervical cancer screening and treatment is low and poorly recorded. The goal of the current study is to investigate the obstacles that HIV-positive women face while trying to use cervical cancer screening. Objective: To investigate cervical cancer screening barriers among HIV positive women at Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College, Ethiopia, 2021. Methods: Between April and June of 2021, a qualitative study was carried out with women who tested positive for HIV and were enrolled in the ART clinic at Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College. At the time of the study, HIV-positive women and medical professionals were purposefully chosen from an ART clinic. In all, 14 patients and 9 healthcare professionals participated in the study. A schedule for in-depth interviews were used to gather data. Analysis was done by using atlas ti computer software. Result: The risk factors and symptoms of cervical cancer were not well known to the respondents. Women have identified several factors that impact their use of cervical screening: inadequate knowledge of the significance of screenings, perceptions of the seriousness of cervical cancer, the separation of the screening location from ART, having conflicting concerns, and emotional barriers like anxiety about a positive result, embarrassment, and shame anticipation. These same problems were recognized by healthcare professionals as obstacles to cervical screening. Conclusion: This study offers extensive data on the various complex reasons why women do not participate in cervical cancer screening programs. Consequently, it is crucial to develop interventions that can address and reduce these barriers.
    },
     year = {2024}
    }
    

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    T1  - Cervical Cancer Screening Barriers Among HIV Positive Women Attending ART Clinic at Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A Qualitative Study
    AU  - Habtimer Abi Kebede
    AU  - Getabalew Endazenew Bekele
    AU  - Ephriam Mamo Gebrehiwot
    AU  - Garoma Kitesa
    AU  - Ayelign Derbew
    Y1  - 2024/03/13
    PY  - 2024
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfmhc.20241001.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.jfmhc.20241001.11
    T2  - Journal of Family Medicine and Health Care
    JF  - Journal of Family Medicine and Health Care
    JO  - Journal of Family Medicine and Health Care
    SP  - 1
    EP  - 10
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2469-8342
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfmhc.20241001.11
    AB  - Background: Cervical cancer is the most common cause of morbidity and death among female cancer patients globally, particularly in poor nations like Ethiopia. It is a preventable, non-communicable disease of public health relevance. In Ethiopia, women's acceptance of the services for cervical cancer screening and treatment is low and poorly recorded. The goal of the current study is to investigate the obstacles that HIV-positive women face while trying to use cervical cancer screening. Objective: To investigate cervical cancer screening barriers among HIV positive women at Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College, Ethiopia, 2021. Methods: Between April and June of 2021, a qualitative study was carried out with women who tested positive for HIV and were enrolled in the ART clinic at Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College. At the time of the study, HIV-positive women and medical professionals were purposefully chosen from an ART clinic. In all, 14 patients and 9 healthcare professionals participated in the study. A schedule for in-depth interviews were used to gather data. Analysis was done by using atlas ti computer software. Result: The risk factors and symptoms of cervical cancer were not well known to the respondents. Women have identified several factors that impact their use of cervical screening: inadequate knowledge of the significance of screenings, perceptions of the seriousness of cervical cancer, the separation of the screening location from ART, having conflicting concerns, and emotional barriers like anxiety about a positive result, embarrassment, and shame anticipation. These same problems were recognized by healthcare professionals as obstacles to cervical screening. Conclusion: This study offers extensive data on the various complex reasons why women do not participate in cervical cancer screening programs. Consequently, it is crucial to develop interventions that can address and reduce these barriers.
    
    VL  - 10
    IS  - 1
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Author Information
  • Health Care Quality Directorate, Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

  • Public Health Department, Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

  • Public Health Department, Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

  • Public Health Department, Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

  • Educational Development Center, Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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