Abstract:
Background: Cervical cancer is the second most common type of cancer in Ethiopian women,
following breast cancer, and it is about six times more common in Human Immune Virus (HIV)
infected women. Cervical cancer screening provides protective advantages and is linked to a
decrease in the incidence of invasive cervical cancer and mortality. However, participation in
cervical cancer screening is quite low in developing country. There was insufficient data on the
uptake of this service, particularly among HIV-infected women in eastern Ethiopia.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess cervical cancer screening service uptake and its
associated factors among adult HIV positive women in public hospitals, Harar, eastern Ethiopia,
from March 20 to April 20 /2022.
Methods: An institution based cross sectional study was conducted among 454 Adults HIV
positive women attending care and treatment at public Hospital Harar town. The participant was
selected by systematic random sampling technique, using an interviewer administered
questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were computed to describe the study variables, Bivariate and
multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to determine the presence and the degree of
association between dependent and independent variables using SPSS. In the multivariable
logistic regression analysis, a P-value of ≤ 0.05 and adjusted odd ratio with a 95% confidence
interval were considered to determine independent predictors for the uptake of cervical cancer
screening.
Result: Cervical cancer screening uptake in this study was 57.5% (95%CI: 52.5, 62.9%).
Cervical cancer screening uptake was significantly associated with age between 30-39years
(AOR=0.38(0.16, 0.8), older age ≥50years (AOR= 0.13 (0.03, 0.50), tertiary level of education
(AOR=0.19(0.04, 0.9), good knowledge (AOR=3.59(2.12, 6.07) and monthly income ≥2501
Ethiopian birr (AOR= 0.38(0.15, 0.95).
Conclusions: In this study, more than half of the respondents had received cervical cancer
screening. This finding implies that to maximize service uptake, it is necessary to strengthen
specific counseling and encouragement that target HIV-positive women, in all educational level
and their monthly income status
