Abstract:

Background: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally, with over 660,000 new cases in 2022. In the same year, about 94% of the 350,000 deaths caused by cervical cancer occurred in low- and middle-income countries. The burden of cervical cancer is disproportionately high in developing countries, which accounts for 85% of cases worldwide and nearly 90% of cervical cancer deaths. The occurrence of all these deaths mostly occurs in the low- and middle-income countries. (LMIC). In Tanzania, cervical cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women aged between 15 and 44 years. Comprehensive national screening programs may reduce the incidence and mortality rate from cervical cancer.

Methodology: simple random selection method was used in the study, which involved reproductive aged women aged (18 to 45) at BMC Mwanza, Tanzania. The study was conducted in two months from June to August 2024. Data was collected through questionnaire (n=206) and interview was conducted. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS version 26 in which -descriptive analysis was used for frequency distribution of social demographic, which was used to determine the association of social demographic information, knowledge and awareness of cervical cancer on prevention and control among women of child bearing age. A variable was considered to be statistically significant in the final model by 95% confidence interval and a p value of less than 0.05

Results: From the total of 206 respondents the majority 84(40.77%) had inadequate knowledge towards preconception care, 52(25.24%) had moderate knowledge while 70(33.98%) had adequate knowledge pertaining prevention and control of cervical cancer. However, majority of respondents 99(53.53%) claimed that the correct age to be vaccinated is at 6-8 years of age. More than half of the study participants (61.7%) know that cervical cancer is curable. Moreover, level of knowledge was significantly associated with level of education(p<0.003). The median (IQR) of the study on awareness was 36 where by the majority of participants 111(53.88%) they were having a poor awareness towards prevention and control of cervical cancer while the remaining 95(46.11%) of the participants seems to have good awareness toward prevention and control of cervical cancer.

Conclusion: At Bugando Medical Centre Hospital, majority of women of childbearing age had inadequate knowledge and poor awareness regarding prevention and control of cervical cancer. However, some of the participants have adequate knowledge and good awareness towards prevention and control of cervical cancer, this study results should not be generalized to the whole population as the study uses small number of sample size.