Perceived benefits of cervical cancer screening among women attending Mahalapye District Hospital, Botswana.

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to describe women's perceived benefits regarding cervical cancer and their association with socio-demographic characteristics.

Methods: A cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted by questionnaire survey. A total of 300 participants were selected by convenience sampling techniques.

Results: Participants' mean age was 37 years (SD=11) and their cervical cancer screening rate was 39%. The majority (87%) either agreed or strongly agreed that screening is important to be done, while 75% believed screening could find changes in the cervix before full cancer arises and 84% that when found early cervical cancer can be easily cured. Comparing between ever screened and never screened, both groups agreed or strongly agreed that screening is important (88.8% versus 87.3%), and can find changes before they become cancer (83% versus 69.8%) and that cervical cancer is easily curable when detected early (92.4% versus 79.5%). Some 42.4% ever screened and 36.1% never screened responded not sure to whether cervical cancer decreases chances of an abortion. We did not find any socio-demographic variables which were significantly associated with perceived benefits of cervical cancer screening. Perceived benefits was not a significant predictor for cervical cancer screening (OR=1.291, p=0.33).

Conclusion: The screening rate is still far too low compared to the National target of greater than 75%. Therefore, despite awareness of the perceived benefits of cervical cancer, the reasons why at risk women fail to participate in cervical cancer screening needs to be adequately explored.