Abstract

Introduction: Cervical cancer is a major public health problem worldwide especially in the developing world including Sub-Saharan Africa. Cervical cancer screening has been consistently shown to be effective in reducing the incidence rate and mortality from cervical cancer by 90%. However, very few women undergo cervical cancer screening in the developing world.

Objective: This study aims to assess the intention of women to receive cervical cancer screening and its predictors in Bahirdar city, North West Ethiopia.

Methods: A community based cross sectional study was conducted from March to April, 2018 on 845 women using a multi stage sampling method.  Data were collected through face-to-face interview by trained data collectors. Data were entered and analyzed using EpiData and SPSS version 20.0. Simple and Multiple linear regression analyses were done to identify predictors of intention at 95% confidence level and P < 0.05 was used to determine statistically significant association

Results: In this study more than half of the respondents 458 (55%) [95% CI 51.7-58.3] scored above the mean score for intention questions. Perceived behavioral control (B=0.21, p<0.001), subjective norm (B=0.06, p<0.001), attitude (B=0.11, p<0.001), respondents’ occupation government (B=0.37, P<0.05), husband educational status; tertiary level 12⁺ (B=0.60, P<0.05), and past screening experience (B=0.60, P<0.001) were significant predictors of intention for cervical cancer screening service utilization.

Conclusion: Perceived behavioral control, attitude towards the behavior, subjective norm, respondents’ employment and husbands’ educational status, and past experience were the predictors of intention to receive cervical cancer screening service.

Keywords: Cervical cancer screening, intention, theory of planned behavior