MST-Department of Environmental Health

Permanent URI for this collection

https://repository.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/5363

Browse

Browsing MST-Department of Environmental Health by Author "Mugwe, Jane"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Uptake of HPV vaccine and screening for cervical Precancerous lesions among attendees of MCH clinic At Thika level 5 hospitals, Kiambu County
    (Kenyatta University, 2014) Mugwe, Jane
    Cervical malignancy is a disease of public health importance. It is one health condition that, in its prevalence and outcome clearly depicts the disparity between the health care systems of developed and developing countries. About 80% of the morbidities and mortalities resulting from cervical cancer occur in developing countries. This is further compounded by the fact that 75% of patients in developing countries present with advanced stage disease when only palliative treatment is possible. High risk human papilloma virus serotypes are implicated in the development of cervical intraepithelial neoplasm and cervical cancer. Sexual behavior has been identified as the major risk factor for cervical cancer. Although largely preventable, cervical cancer remains a common worldwide malignancy. Globally 500,000 new cancers occur annually. Screening and immunization have been documented to greatly reduce cervical cancer in most developed countries but those strategies are poorly implemented in developing countries. The objective of this study was to assess the factors influencing uptake of HPV vaccine and screening for cervical cancer. This was a cross sectional study of maternal child health clinic attendees, between February and mid June 2011 at Thika level 5 hospital. By simple random sampling technique 290 mothers were interviewed after observing the necessary ethical requirements. Data analysis was done by predictive analytical software and presented in frequency tables, percentages and means. Inferential statistics was done using chi-square to test for association among research variables,• statistical significant was calculated at 5% level of significance and 95% confidence interval. The results of the study showed that less than half of the respondents (40.3%) had knowledge on the causes of cervical cancer. While majority (79%) of the respondents stated that cervical cancer was a very serious disease, only 24 (8.3%) of the total respondents (290) had been screened. Although 39(13.4%) had heard about a vaccine to protect against infection with human papilloma virus (HPV), none of the respondents had been vaccinated. Educational level was positively correlated with knowledge of cervical cancer, (X2 =14.949,df=3, p=0.002). Higher education attainment led to the delay in sexual debut. More than half of the respondents (63%) were at an increased risk of developing cervical cancer. This study recommends integration of HPV vaccine with Kenya National Immunization Vaccine programme and education curriculum to be modified to include diseases of public health importance such as cervical cancer at all I' • levels of education,