Challenges of Communicating Cervical Cancer Screening Awareness and Uptake in Bungoma County, Kenya

Abstract

There have been ongoing cervical cancer campaigns in Kenya, targeting cervical cancer awareness and the need to go for cervical cancer screening (National Cervical Cancer Prevention Program, 2012). However, data depicts that there is a low level of screening and uptake among the rural population (ICO Information Centre on HPV and Cancer, 2014). This study adopted a descriptive research design, taking on qualitative data methods of focus groups discussions and in depth interviews, with a purpose of finding out the communication challenges of cervical cancer screening awareness and uptake among rural women in Bungoma County, Kenya. The objectives of the study were to: find out the communication channels used during the campaigns; and to understand the challenges of communicating cervical cancer screening messages to rural women in Bungoma County. A total of 40 women were interviewed from the Mt. Elgon Constituency in Bungoman County. The data was analysed by using QSR-Nvivo. The findings of the research showed that the main communication channels of cervical cancer were media, health education, and road shows. The main communication challenges of cervical cancer screening and uptake were: lack of cervical cancer terminology; inadequate information on the communication channels; and fear among women. There were low levels of cervical cancer awareness and uptake among the participants. One of the recommendations was the need for educating media personalities and other key health informants on cervical cancer for increase in uptake of screening services.