Cervical Cancer Screening Uptake and its Associated Factors among Rural Health Extension Workers of Jimma Zone, South West Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Cervical cancer is the uncontrolled multiplication of normal cells of the cervix that arises from the squamous columnar junction. It is one of the major public health problems in Ethiopia. Despite efforts to improve the cervical cancer program in recent years, the uptake and utilization of cervical cancer screening remain very low. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of cervical cancer screening utilization and identify determinant factors affecting it among Jimma zone rural health extension workers. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study design was conducted in selected six districts of Jimma Zone from May 1 to 15 2025. A total of 266 health extension workers were recruited using a simple random sampling technique from each district after a proportional allocation of study samples for each district. Data was collected using a pretested questionnaire, entered into Epidata version 4.6, and then exported to SPSS version 27. Bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed to see the association between cervical cancer screening uptake and the explanatory variables. Variables with P value < 0.25 were selected as candidate variables for multi-variable logistic regression. The outputs from the regression analysis were reported at P-Value < 0.05 using an Adjusted Odds Ratio with their 95% CIs. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 32.96 years, with a standard deviation of ±2.81 years. The prevalence of cervical cancer screening uptake in Jimma Zone among rural health extension workers was 33.8% (95%CI: 28.2-39.9). Health extension workers aged 40–49 years (AOR = 4.81; 95% CI: 1.01–12.8), work experience (AOR = 8.69; 95% CI: 1.66–15.6), received formal training (AOR = 2.71; 95% CI: 1.14–6.46), and having good knowledge (AOR = 2.47; 95% CI: 1.05–5.83) were identified as factors associated with cervical cancer screening uptake among rural health extension workers in the Jimma Zone, Southwest Ethiopia. Conclusion: The overall cervical cancer screening uptake rate among rural health extension workers was low compared to national and global strategy for cervical cancer elimination. Screening is more common among rural health extension workers whose age is 40-49, those with longer work experience, received formal training and having good knowledge. To improve uptake, we recommend rural health extension worker focused training and awareness creation.