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Barriers to Cervical Cancer Screening in Arba Minch Town, Southern Ethiopia: A Qualitative Study

Gebru Z, Gerbaba M, Dirar A

Background: Over the years perception and uptake of cervical cancer screening services has remained poor in developing countries including Ethiopia. Data on barriers of Ethiopian women regarding cervical cancer is lacking.

Objective: This study sought to explore barriers to utilization of cervical cancer screening in Arba Minch town, Southern Ethiopia.

Methods: A qualitative research study using in-depth interviews was conducted. The in-depth interviews were tape recorded and transcribed verbatim. The transcripts were analyzed into themes.

Result: The respondents had low awareness of cervical cancer and were not utilizing the services. There was also a lack of understanding of risk factors for cervical cancer. The major factors identified by the women that influence screening utilization were lack of knowledge about the need for cervical screening, fatalistic attitudes about cervical cancer and other aspects of health, low perceived susceptibility, having many contending issues, financial constraint, and emotional barriers (fear of having a positive result, embarrassment and anticipated shame).

Conclusion: This study provides enormous data on the multifaceted reasons why women do not utilize cervical cancer screening. Interventions are required to alleviate the barriers through using simple and cost effective programs that could have a great impact.