Socio Demographic characteristics of study participants in Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia
A total of fifteen women were interviewed and the participants were from Mekelle town, Ayder, Hadnet, and Hawelti sub cities. The minimum and maximum age were 32 and 47, respectively, and all of them are married.
Table 1: socio demographic characteristics of study participants in Mekelle, Tigray Ethiopia 2021.
Variable
|
Frequency
|
Percent
|
Age
|
31-35
|
4
|
26.7
|
36-40
|
5
|
33.3
|
41-45
|
4
|
26.7
|
46-50
|
2
|
13.3
|
Occupation
|
|
|
Employed
|
3
|
20
|
Unemployed
|
14
|
80
|
Religion
|
Orthodox
|
11
|
73.3
|
Muslim
|
4
|
26.7
|
Opportunities for cervical cancer screening utilization among women’s living in Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia.
There are plenty of opportunities which might enhance the cervical cancer screening service, where this service should serve as a bench mark for women’s health. The respondents mentioned that a good opportunity for them to know and utilize cervical cancer screening were health extension workers. Those professionals are key for disseminating information regarding reproductive health services and they have been hand and glove with Ethiopian society for so many years.
This mobile health extension workers went to the society to teach health related issues and this program is supported by policy of the nation, since these professionals are in close contact with women, they could teach and counsel them the pros and cons of cervical cancer screening services for the society. Some of them said that having health institutions around residency and access to information are nice means for cervical cancer screening. According to this thought, health institutions are responsible to the community to disseminate information and knowledge to the nearby residents about the benefits of cervical cancer screening services.
One of the respondents explained that recommendation from health professionals is a good opportunity to capacitate cervical cancer screening. This idea is mainly associated with the acceptance and trust of health professionals in the society in utilizing reproductive health services, especially cervical cancer screening.
Furthermore, another respondent mentioned that seeing screened and treated women was an opportunity for cervical cancer screening. According to this idea, having an awareness that the cervical cancer can be treated and cured drives that to be screened and to relay on the services provided.
“ohh…..we have seminar discussions with health extension workers, there is a health center around us and I consider screening. Furthermore, the service is cost free and we got an information from TV and health professionals. These are an opportunities for screening.” (P-10)
“emm…..Availability of information, health education and being cost free are also an opportunity. Besides, availability of health institutions is another opportunity. As for me, my residence is near Ayder hospital which is the largest hospital in Tigray.” (P-8)
“……if you have a good relationship with health professionals, they will recommend you for screening. If they recommend you for screening, you will do it.” (P-4)
“Seeing screened, treated, and cured women creates a drive for screening. You have to be ready for screening before you acquire the disease. I live near Ayder and this is one opportunity for screening. Addedly, getting an information is also an opportunity. Especially for married women, family support is also an opportunity.” (P-15)
On top of that, the respondents mentioned that experiencing symptoms related to cervical cancer is an opportunity for cervical cancer screening. The respondents elaborated that the cervical cancer screening service is essential in protecting and promoting women’s lives. Besides, they have mentioned that this service is mandatory to have a healthy children.
“Yeah….for some time, I consider to go for screening when I feel something different in my body. This forces me for screening. When I feel something different in my uterus, I will get worried. I have to be healthy, to have a healthy children so you want to be screened.” (P-4)
Generally, cervical cancer screening is key in keeping and promoting women’s health. The discussants elaborated that cervical cancer screening service opportunities are essential for a woman to have a successful lives, to have a healthy children and a stable family, meaning to say if a woman get screened for cervical cancer and other diseases, she would end up with an uncomplicated pregnancy and delivery.
“The opportunities would help women to be healthy, to get a healthy children, to have a stable family and overall to have a successful life and uncomplicated pregnancy and delivery.” (P-12)
Figure 1: Opportunities for enhancement of cervical cancer screening utilization among women’s living in Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia.
Challenges for cervical cancer screening utilization among women’s living in Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia.
Women face a lot of challenges and obstacles to meet their interest in cervical cancer screening, those challenges really start from home and may put a question on women’s life. The participants mentioned that carelessness, lack of awareness, and embarrassment were the main barriers not to be screened for cervical cancer. From the point of view of the discussants women’s fail to be screened due to lack of awareness and knowledge on cervical cancer and cervical cancer screening. Due to this, women are unable to recognize the signs and symptoms and complications of the disease.
One of the discussants explained that during a hospital visits to get any services or related services to cervical cancer, professionals are not much committed to providing cervical cancer screening and other reproductive health services. This is an important explanation if the professionals are non-cooperative and committed in providing reproductive health services, especially cervical cancer screening service as this hinders women from returning back to utilize important reproductive health services like cervical cancer screening. In association with this, the respondents mentioned that being busy with work and long waiting time in hospitals were additional barriers which hindered them from screening for cervical cancer.
“Just I got busy working at home and as far as I feel healthy, I don’t think off screening. I think it is due to lack of awareness and I don’t think for screening unless I feel something bad. There is also embarrassment. When you think that you are healthy, you feel embarrassed to be screened. Additionally, health professionals appoint you for another day and you will get bored. They don’t serve you properly.” (P-10)
“I don’t think I have a challenge, but it is all about not paying much attention and carelessness. I know the importance, but due to carelessness I hadn’t screened for cervical cancer. Additionally, other women may fear if they tell that they have the disease for the sake of their marriage. I don’t have deep knowledge and that makes me careless. If I have deep knowledge, I will fear the disease and become careful. For example we care about HIV and corona because we know and we fear them. But for cervical cancer I don’t have enough awareness, I know only the advertises. Every woman should be screened before it is changed to pain.” (P-15)
‘‘In addition, health institutions are remote and doctors are not available in working time. They appoint you for another time and there is a long waiting time. My friend went to Mekelle hospital carrying her child which is too far and she waited the whole day and returned at 10 o’clock. This is difficult for women who have a child and work at home. But if the hospital is close enough, that will not be difficult.’’(P-4)
Furthermore, one of the respondents explained that female care providers are obstacles for cervical cancer screening. She said that female care providers insult them even when they go for delivery. According to the respondent’s perspective, female care providers are not cooperative and smooth for them during their hospital visit. Addedly, some of the respondents explained that cultural belief was another obstacle which hinders women from screening for cervical cancer.
“…...I prefer male care providers for screening. Female care providers insult us even when we go for delivery. They are obstacles for us. Even if you lose your card, they don’t want to help you. Even though the health extension workers provide us information and I have the awareness, the health care providers will not serve you properly.” (P-7)
‘‘Additionally, when you go for screening, there is a cultural effect. Since most of our population is illiterate, they consider as if you have multiple sexual partners when you go for screening and you will not be screened as far as you are healthy. This is a challenge for cervical cancer screening.’’(P-6)
Unexpectedly, one of the respondents explained that currently the curative rate is lower than previous times. As the respondent’s perspective, she believed that this is due to carelessness in physicians. As a result of this, she fears for medical error and this hinders her for cervical cancer screening.
“……..Nowadays in hospital the curative rate is lower. In previous times when you get sick you will get cured but nowadays there is carelessness in physicians. Due to this, I fear for medical errors.” (P-13)
The respondents explained that the effect of those barriers on the fate of the mother, based on this discussion, if a woman doesn’t attend cervical cancer screening, she might be predisposed infertility and death. It has great physiological and economical effect. Besides, if a mother fails to keep her health, the entire family will get affected.
One of the interviewees said that if a woman didn’t attend a cervical cancer screening, she might end up with death. As cervical cancer is dangerous and killer, if it gets disseminated, the woman’s whole body will be affected and she will suffer a lot. According to the view of the respondent, the disease has various complications which greatly compromises the quality of women’s life.
“Yeah….. There are many effects on women’s life if cervical cancer screening is hindered …. Once a woman is affected by cervical cancer, she will be infertile. Additionally, she will face a lot of psychological and economic problems. Finally, if not treated, she will be dead. “(P-11)
“Yes, it has an effect …cervical cancer is dangerous and killer. If a woman is affected by cervical cancer, it will be disseminated to her whole body and she will suffer too much.” (P-3)
Figure 2: challenges for cervical cancer screening utilization among women living in Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia.