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.