Background Although cervical cancer is a preventable disease, screening coverage in Ethiopia is far below the target. There is limited evidence on uptake among the general population in Ethiopia. Thus, this study was conducted to assess uptake and associated factors with the cervical cancer screening “see and treat approach” among eligible women in public health facilities in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia. Method A facility-based, cross-sectional study was conducted. The total sample size was 493. A consecutive sampling method was applied. Participants were informed about and invited to cervical cancer screening using visual inspection with acetic acid. Crude and adjusted odds ratios were calculated to determine statistical association with socio-demographic variables. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine factors of cervical cancer screening uptake. Result Out of 464 women advised for screening, 76 (16.4, 95% CI [13, 19.8%]) attended the screening. Primary education and above (AOR = 5.3, 95% CI [2.20, 13.0]), knowledge about the disease (AOR = 8.4, 95% CI [3.33, 21.21]), perceived susceptibility (AOR = 6.5, 95% CI [2.72, 15.51]), fewer perceived barriers (AOR = 6.4, 95% CI [2.30, 17.80]), cues to action (AOR = 4.6, 95% CI [1.86, 11.32]), perceived self-efficacy (AOR = 5, 95% CI [2.14, 11.73]), and previous recommendation for screening (AOR = 2.7, 95% CI [1.15, 6.51]) were significantly associated with screening uptake. Conclusion The actual uptake of screening offered in this study was high relative to only 3% national screening coverage. There is a need to implement active invitation for screening with special focus on less-educated women. Repeated invitation may facilitate future screening uptake.

Cervical cancer (CC) is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide and the leading cause of cancer deaths in developing countries. CC can be prevented through available preventive interventions. However, most patients in developing countries, such as Ethiopia, present late with advanced stage disease due to low participation in CC screening and require treatment involving multiple modalities. Women’s social, economic and cultural backgrounds have been associated with the level of participation in CC screening programmes. Therefore, this study aimed to assess women’s sexual autonomy as a determinant of lifetime CC screening among women in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. An institutional-based case–control study was conducted in which controls were women who had received screening services during the last 5 years, and cases were randomly selected from women coming for other services but never screened or aware of the screening service. Accordingly, 294 women were enrolled. Data were collected by using a pre-tested standard questionnaire through interviewing. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the women’s sexual autonomy as a determinant of lifetime CC screening. The study revealed higher sexual autonomy led to higher odds for having been screened (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 3.128, 95% CI (1.730, 5.658)). Moreover, direct referral to the screening service (AOR = 3.173, 95% CI (1.57, 6.45)) and parity had positively affected the lifetime uptake of CC screening (AOR = 2.844, 95% CI (1.344, 6.014)). We found that women’s own sexual autonomy was associated with the improvement of CC screening uptake. Empowering women could alleviate barriers to CC screening in the community.

Background:Although cervical cancer is a preventable disease, screening coverage in Ethiopia is far below the target. There is limited evidence on uptake among the general population in Ethiopia. Thus, this study was conducted to assess uptake and associated factors with the cervical cancer screening "see and treat approach" among eligible women in public health facilities in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia.Method:A facility-based, cross-sectional study was conducted. The total sample size was 493. A consecutive sampling method was applied. Participants were informed about and invited to cervical cancer screening using visual inspection with acetic acid. Crude and adjusted odds ratios were calculated to determine statistical association with socio-demographic variables. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine factors of cervical cancer screening uptake.Result:Out of 464 women advised for screening, 76 (16.4%, 95% CI [13%, 19.8%]) attended the screening. Primary education and above (AOR = 5.3, 95% CI [2.20, 13.0]), knowledge about the disease (AOR = 8.4, 95% CI [3.33, 21.21]), perceived susceptibility (AOR = 6.5, 95% CI [2.72, 15.51]), fewer perceived barriers (AOR = 6.4, 95% CI [2.30, 17.80]), cues to action (AOR = 4.6, 95% CI [1.86, 11.32]), perceived self-efficacy (AOR = 5, 95% CI [2.14, 11.73]), and previous recommendation for screening (AOR = 2.7, 95% CI [1.15, 6.51]) were significantly associated with screening uptake.Conclusion:The actual uptake of screening offered in this study was high relative to only 3% national screening coverage. There is a need to implement active invitation for screening with special focus on less-educated women. Repeated invitation may facilitate future screening uptake.