Abstract:
Cervical cancer is a global challenge with high morbidity and mortality, especially in
developing countries. Though every woman is at risk, women of reproductive age living in
rural areas within developing countries are most affected. Strategies to prevent and treat
cervical cancer promptly include vaccination and screening practices; have not reduced
morbidity and mortality, especially in Africa because of many factors that must be explored.
Objective: The main objective of the study was to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices
about cervical cancer prevention among women attending maternity department at Ruli
Hospital/Rwanda.
Methodology: Descriptive design was adopted to collect quantitative data using an interview
guide with structured test items from 108 women of reproductive age. A convenient sampling
strategy was used and SPSS version 20 was used to analyze the data.
Results: Among 108 women respondents, 50.9% women were aged between 20-29 years, of
whom 55.6% were married between 20-29 and 60.2% had one to two children.
Majority 80.3% of respondents were aware that the cancer of the cervix is highly prevalent in
Rwanda and is the most leading cause of deaths among women, did not know that the uterus
is the organ affected by cervical cancer. About 50% had the satisfactory knowledge and 70%
had a positive attitude to cervical cancer prevention, however, 86.1% have never screened for
cervical cancer, 54.6% have never been advised by anyone to screen, 47.2% have never heard
about the screening test for prevention and 82.4% have not been vaccinated.
Conclusion and Recommendation: The study concluded that women were aware of the
fatality of cervical cancer, had a fair knowledge of prevention as means of controlling
cervical cancer but were not receiving counseling hence were not practicing cervical
screening for prevention of cervical cancer. Nurses, as the professional point of reaching
v
many women in the maternity period, have the opportunity to counsel and support screening
for cervical cancer prevention.
