Cervical cancer screening uptake and influencing factors among women at Moroto Regional Referral Hospital, Uganda: a descriptive cross-sectional study.
Abstract
Background: Cervical cancer screening remains underutilized in many low-resource settings. This study assessed screening uptake and factors influencing utilization among women aged 25–49 years receiving health services at Moroto Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH), Uganda. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from April to May 2026 among 70 women recruited from the outpatient and gynaecology departments using simple random sampling. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire and analysed descriptively using SPSS, Microsoft Excel, and a scientific calculator. Results: Of 70 participants, 28 (40.0%) were aged 25–30 years, 49 (70.0%) were married, 42 (60.0%) had secondary education, and all resided in Moroto. Eleven women (15.7%) had ever undergone cervical cancer screening, while 59 (84.3%) had never screened. Among unscreened women, 47 (80%) strongly agreed that screening was painful, 34 (58%) did not know where to screen, 32 (54%) believed screening reagents cause cancer, and 31 (52%) believed the uterus is removed during screening. Overall, 56 (80%) had heard of cervical cancer, but 41 (59%) were unaware that screening was available at MRRH. The report also indicated inadequate sensitization and limited health-worker recommendation as health-system concerns. Conclusion: Cervical cancer screening uptake was low in this hospital-based sample. Misconceptions, limited awareness of service availability, and health-system communication gaps were prominent descriptive findings. Recommendation: MRRH health workers should provide routine screening education and recommendations during patient encounters; hospital management should visibly communicate where and when screening is available; and the Ministry of Health with implementing partners should strengthen community sensitization and screening outreaches.