Factors affecting utilization of cervical cancer screening services among women attending public hospitals in Tigray region, Ethiopia, 2018; Case control study

BACKGROUND: Incidence and mortality of cervical cancer is the leading cancer among women in Ethiopia. Absence of effective detection methods and treatment strategies is a major reason for the sharply rising cervical cancer rates in developing countries. OBJECTIVE: To determine factors affecting utilization of cervical cancer screening services among women attending public hospitals in Tigray region in 2018. METHODS: Hospital based unmatched case control study was applied with sample size of 312 cases and 312 controls. Data was entered to Epi data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 20. The odds ratio with their 95% confidence interval, two-tailed P value was calculated. Variables with P value ≤ 0.05 in the bivariate analysis were included in the multivariate logistic regression model. RESULTS: Being in the age group of 30–39 and 40–49 years were two and four times more likely to utilize cervical cancer screening than those who were 21–29 years (AOR = 2.15 95%CI:1.11, 4.17 and AOR = 3.86 95%CI:1.48, 10.06) respectively. Current occupation with governmental and private employee were four and three times more likely to utilize the screening service than those housewife respectively (AOR = 3.85 95%CI: 1.87, 7.92 and AOR = 3.17 95%CI: 1.31, 7.66). Having ever given birth and history of multiple sexual partners were more likely to utilize the screening service (AOR = 2.57 95%CI: 1.02, 6.50) and (AOR = 2.65 95%CI: 1.10, 6.40) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to strengthen policy and guidelines on cervical cancer screening among women particularly with regarding age group of 21–29, current occupation with housewife, single sexual partner and null parity. All stakeholders should give priority on the promotion and initiation of women to acquired good knowledge and attitude on cervical cancer screening.