RP-Department of Sociology

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Browsing RP-Department of Sociology by Subject "Cancer screening"

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    Determinants Of Screening Patterns For Invasive Cervical Cancer Among Patients Attending Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya
    (Researchjournali, 2016) Maina, Lucy; Kigaru, Dorcus Mbithe D.; Korir-Rugutt, Anne; Agina, Okello
    Background: Early diagnosis and improved therapeutic interventions are the two-fold most acclaimed management options for cervical cancer. Screening patterns are different from developing countries, Kenya included where limited access to oncology screening facilities and stigma associated with cancer influence disease reporting and management. Objective: To examine the determinants of screening and diagnosis among cervical cancer patients attending Kenyatta National Hospital, the largest referral health facility in Kenya with radiotherapy treatment clinic. Methods: A cross-sectional study design among 320 patients randomly selected from Cancer Registry records and purposively selected hospital staff. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Secondary data was sourced from medical records. Chi-square tests were used for significance at P<0.05. Results: Lack of knowledge on cervical cancer (75.3%) was significantly associated with late diagnosis (P=0.0023). Preponderance (83.1%) had no knowledge on screening tests prior to diagnosis while only 16.9% were aware of Pap smear test. Education level was significantly associated with late diagnosis (P<0.0001). Health system factors; delayed referral by local health facilities, delayed diagnosis at KNH, long waiting patient list and conditions for accessing treatment compounded the problem. Conclusion: Routinely coordinated mechanism for delivering cervical cancer information should be infused into screening and reproductive health programmes