Factors affecting cervical screening of female nurses at Public Health Institution in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province

Abstract

Background: Cervical cancer is the leading cause of death among women and more common in developing countries creating social and economic instability. Many of these women are diagnosed with cancer at advanced stage of disease because of lack of screening and early detection services. Purpose: The main purpose of this study was to determine factors affecting participation to cervical screening by female nurses in public health institutions in Vhembe district. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional descriptive design was used in this study. The target population was 264 professional nurses who were sampled from four hospitals. The stratified random sampling method was used to sample all female nurses from all categories at their workplace. Structured questionnaires were used in the collection of data. Throughout the study ethical considerations were adhered to. Descriptive statistics were used in analysing data to identify statistically significant differences between groups involved in this study. The collected data was captured and analysed using SPSS version 26 and all the findings were presented in percentages, frequencies, tables and graphs. Results: Regards to attitude and practice the results shows 83% (n=218) of female nurses have screened for cervical cancer, while 17% (n=46) did not screen. The study also reveal certain barriers which prevent females nurses from being screened, this include embarrassment (30%), fear of positive results (15%), fear of pain (10%) and (31%) female nurses think they are healthy. The study found a significant relationship between sociodemographic characteristics and knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding cervical. It was found that age range and level of education significantly affected knowledge level (p=0.000). Recommendations: The study therefore recommended that the awareness regarding cervical cancer should be upgraded and the nurses should be trained in the same context as well as more research in other rural based hospitals.