Awareness of Cancer and Cancer Risk Factors among Women in Kitale Municipality

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess awareness of cancer and cancer risk factors among women in Kitale Municipality Methodology: A cross-sectional study using stratified simple sampling to select a sample of 422 women aged 30-69 years old was adopted. A Structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Data entry and coding was done in SPSS v20. Subsequent content analysis was used to descriptively summarize and compute proportions, mean and standard deviation in reporting socio-demographic data. To test the association between dependent and independent variables, Chi-square was used while Multiple Logistic Regression analysis was used to generate adjusted odds ratios of association. Data was presented in form of tables and figures. Findings: Findings suggest that 80% (338) women were aware of cervical cancer. Among them, 75% (317) had never heard of Human Papilloma Virus HPV while only 23% (97) women knew HPV infection was a risk factor for developing cervical cancer. There was a positive association between awareness of multiple sexual partners (p=0.007); early sexual intercourse (p=0.012) as risk factors and cervical cancer screening. This study found that there was modest awareness about cervical cancer among women in this Municipality. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study recommends scale up for cervical cancer awareness by stakeholders. The current study has added knowledge that will be used by stakeholders advocating for cervical cancer awareness that will aid in uptake important in early detection and treatment of cervical cancer cases, and hence reducing case morbidity and mortality.