Tsidkayehu Berhanu, Ephrem Mamo, Tsegaye Tewolde and Muktar Beshir
Background: Health extension workers play a great role in creating awareness among the community and mobilizing women towards reproductive health. This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitude, practice and associated factors towards cervical cancer screening among Health Extension Workers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Method: Across sectional, interview based survey was conducted from December 8 to January 5, 2018 in Addis Ababa. Simple Random sampling technique was used to select a total of 301 study participants. Frequency tables and graphs were used to describe the study variables. Bivariate and multivariate logistic analyses were performed to see the existence and significance of association.
Results: More than half (51.5%) of health extension workers had poor level of knowledge about cervical cancer and only 27 (9.3%) of the respondents were screened in the past five years. Feeling healthy (33.9%), fear of pain during screening (16.1%) and felt free of risk factors (15.9%) were common reasons for not being screened. Knowing someone diagnosed with cervical cancer (AOR=3.5; 95% CI: 1.66-7.30) and marital status (AOR=3.4; 95% CI: 1.38- 8.30) were significantly associated with practice of cervical cancer screening.
Conclusion: This study finds that there is poor knowledge among Health Extension workers in Addis Ababa about cervical cancer and its screening. Their screening practice was also found to be very low. Providing training for health extension workers and availing accessible screening services must be prioritized to increase their knowledge and enhance screening practices.