Determinants of Low Uptake of Cervical Cancer Screening Among Sexually Active Women in an Urban Health District in Cameroon

Berthe Sabine Esson Mapoko; Lyda Saurelle Kom; Esther Dina Bell; Veronique Batoum Mboua; Etienne Atenguena; Lionel Tabola; Glwadys Madjoumo; Ronny Kamtcheu; Zacharie Sando; Louise Ngo Likeng

doi:doi:10.11648/j.crj.20251304.13

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Determinants of Low Uptake of Cervical Cancer Screening Among Sexually Active Women in an Urban Health District in Cameroon

Berthe Sabine Esson Mapoko^*

, Lyda Saurelle Kom, Esther Dina Bell

, Veronique Batoum Mboua, Etienne Atenguena

, Lionel Tabola, Glwadys Madjoumo, Ronny Kamtcheu, Zacharie Sando, Louise Ngo Likeng

Published in Cancer Research Journal (Volume 13, Issue 4)

Received: 11 November 2025 Accepted: 26 November 2025 Published: 29 December 2025

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Abstract

Background: Cervical cancer remains a major public health concern in low- and middle-income countries. Screening uptake in Cameroon is far below the World Health Organization’s elimination targets. This study assessed socio-demographic, economic, and informational determinants of low cervical cancer screening uptake among sexually active women in an urban district of Yaoundé. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September to October 2023 in the Biyem-Assi Health District. A convenience sample of 250 sexually active women aged 25–59 years completed a pre-tested structured questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with non-participation. Significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Overall, 89.0% of participants had never been screened. Independent predictors of non-participation were being single (AOR 5.79; 95% CI 3.60–9.45), lack of awareness of screening centers (AOR 5.02; 95% CI 1.24–20.29), no health insurance (AOR 3.91; 95% CI 1.70–8.98), poor knowledge of cervical cancer (AOR 3.16; 95% CI 1.12–8.94), unemployment (AOR 2.16; 95% CI 1.18-4.00), and having ≤1 child (AOR 1.94; 95% CI 1.21-3.12). Conclusion: Cervical cancer screening uptake is critically low in this urban population. The main barriers relate to socioeconomic vulnerability and lack of specific information on where screening services are offered. Improving service visibility, reducing costs, and integrating screening into routine health services may help increase uptake, although further research is required to evaluate feasibility and impact.

Published in	Cancer Research Journal (Volume 13, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.crj.20251304.13
Page(s)	167-172
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Cervical Cancer, Screening, Determinants, Prevention, Cameroon

1. Introduction

Cervical cancer (CC) remains a major health issue globally, with the highest burden observed in low- and middle-income countries where over 90% of CC mortality occurs

[1]

. In sub-Saharan Africa, more than 125,000 new cases are recorded annually

[2]

. In Cameroon, CC is the second most common cancer among women, with an estimated 2,525 new cases and 1,837 deaths in 2022

[2]

The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Strategy to Accelerate Cervical Cancer Elimination calls for 70% of women to be screened at least once by age 35 and again by age 45

[3]

. Cameroon has adopted these targets through national policy frameworks

[4]

, yet coverage remains low, around 8%

[5]

. Determinants of poor screening uptake have been documented in rural settings

[6]

, but evidence from large urban districts—where one might expect better accessibility—remains limited.

This study investigated socio-demographic, economic, and informational factors associated with low screening uptake among sexually active women in an urban district of Yaoundé.

2. Methods

2.1. Study Design and Setting

A quantitative, analytical cross-sectional study was carried out from September to October 2023.

The study took place in the Biyem-Assi Health District, an urban area of Yaoundé characterized by high population mobility and significant socioeconomic diversity.

2.2. Study Population and Sampling

Sexually active women aged 25-59 years, residents for at least six months, were eligible. Women with a history of invasive cervical cancer or communication difficulties were excluded.

A convenience sampling approach was used due to the absence of a complete sampling frame and the high mobility of the target urban population. This method was also selected to accommodate time and logistical constraints. While convenient sampling may limit representativeness and introduce selection bias, these limitations are explicitly acknowledged and discussed.

A minimum sample size of 245 was calculated using the Lorentz formula and a screening prevalence of 19.6% reported in a similar setting

[6]

. We included 250 participants.

2.3. Data Collection and Analysis

Data were collected using a structured questionnaire that was pre-tested to ensure clarity and reliability. Variables included socio-demographic characteristics, economic status, knowledge of cervical cancer, and awareness of screening services.

1) Outcome: non-participation = never screened (coded 1), participation = screened at least once (coded 0).

2) Categorical predictors were dummy-coded with reference categories defined in the tables.

Data were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software (SPSS) v25. Variables with p < 0.20 in bivariate analyses were retained for multivariate logistic regression. Adjusted Odds Ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed. Results are presented with conservative interpretation due to some small subgroup sizes.

2.4. Ethical Considerations

Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Ethics Committee for Research on Human Health (N°2023/020278/CEIRSH/ESS/MSP). Written informed consent was obtained.

3. Results

3.1. Characteristics of the Study Population

Table 1. Sociodemographic characteristics of the study population (N=250).

Characteristic	Category	Frequency (n)	Percentage (%)
Marital Status	Single	181	72.4
	Married	40	16
	Free union	24	9.6
	Divorced/Widowed	5	2
Education Level	Tertiary/Higher Education	199	79.6
	Secondary	43	17.2
	Primary/Without	8	3.2
Occupation	Students	65	26
	Civil Servants/Public Sector Staff	54	21.6
	Unemployed	104	41.6
	Informal sector activity	27	10.8
Parity	≤ 1 child	190	76
Parity	> 1 child	60	24
Age at First Sexual Intercourse	≤ 14 years	36	14.4
	≤ 18 years	119	46.7
	> 18 years	95	38
Cervical Cancer Screening Uptake	Non-Participation (Never Screened)	222	89
Cervical Cancer Screening Uptake	Participation (Previously Screened)	28	11

The mean age was 28.46 ± 6.24 years (range: 24-54 years), indicating a predominantly young cohort (87% in the 25-35 age group). Overall, 89.0% of participants had never been screened. Key demographic characteristics are resumed in Table 1.

3.2. Knowledge and Informational Gaps

While 84.0% of the women reported knowing about the existence of CC, this did not translate into specific knowledge of the prevention method. Specifically, 58.0% were unaware of the specific screening methods available (e.g., Pap smear, Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid [VIA]).

3.3. Factors Associated with Non-participation of Screening

The logistic regression analysis confirmed that a mix of socioeconomic, demographic, and informational factors were independently and significantly associated with non-participation. The strongest predictor for non-participation was the lack of awareness regarding the existence of screening Centres (AOR: 5.02), closely followed by single marital status (AOR: 5.79) and lack of health insurance (AOR: 3.91). Tables 2, 3 and 4 below demonstrated to results.

Table 2. Socio-demographic factors associated with non-participation of screening.

Variable	Category	Non-participation n (%)	Participation n (%)	AOR	95% CI	p
Marital status	Single	168 (75.7)	13 (46.4)	5.79	3.60-9.45	<0.001
Marital status	Married/other (ref)	54 (24.3)	15 (53.6)	1.00	-	-
Parity	≤1 child	176 (79.3)	14 (50.0)	1.94	1.21-3.12	0.007
Parity	>1 child (ref)	46 (20.7)	14 (50.0)	1.00	-	-

Table 3. Economic factors associated with non-participation of screening.

Variable	Category	Non-participation n (%)	Participation n (%)	AOR	95% CI	p
Employment	Unemployed	98 (44.1)	6 (21.4)	2.16	1.18-4.00	0.016
Employment	Employed (ref)	124 (55.9)	22 (78.6)	1.00	-	-
Health insurance	No	166 (74.8)	12 (42.9)	3.91	1.70-8.98	0.001
Health insurance	Yes (ref)	56 (25.2)	16 (57.1)	1.00	-	-

Table 4. Informational and environmental factors associated with non-participation of screening.

Variable	Category	Non-participation n (%)	Participation n (%)	AOR	95% CI	p
Awareness of screening centres	No	22 (9.9)	0 (0.0)	5.02	1.24-20.29	0.004
Awareness of screening centres	Yes (ref)	98 (44.1)	28 (100)	1.00	-	-
Knowledge of CC	Poor	80 (36.0)	1 (3.6)	3.16	1.12-8.94	0.006
Knowledge of CC	Adequate (ref)	142 (64.0)	27 (96.4)	1.00	-	-

4. Discussion

Screening uptake was extremely low in this urban population. This figure drastically exceeds national and rural estimates, suggesting a structural and logistical failure even in better-resourced urban settings. This rate is antithetical to the 70% screening target set by the WHO elimination strategy

[3]

The paradox of high educational attainment (80%) not translating into preventative health action highlights the limitations of the knowledge deficit model. Our results align with the Health Belief Model (HBM), suggesting that while knowledge may be present, perceived barriers (cost, logistics) and low self-efficacy dominate the decision-making process for screening uptake in Sub-Saharan Africa

[7, 8]

. The persistence of low uptake despite high education signals that practical barriers outweigh cognitive understanding.

Socioeconomic vulnerability—particularly unemployment and absence of health insurance—was associated with low participation, consistent with findings across sub-Saharan Africa

[9-11]

. Single women and women with fewer children were also less likely to undergo screening, possibly reflecting lower perceived risk and reduced interaction with maternal health services.

The significant associations with single marital status (AOR: 5.79) and low parity (AOR: 1.94) indicate that younger women, often at the onset of their sexual and reproductive lives, are the least screened group. This is a critical failure in targeting. Historically, screening programs in Low- and Middle-Income Countries focused on older, higher-parity women. Our data suggest that this opportunistic approach misses the incident cohort of younger urban women who may perceive their risk as low and lack the family/partner support often associated with screening initiation

[12, 13]

The strongest predictor of non-participation was lack of awareness of screening centres, suggesting major informational gaps despite generally high education levels

[7, 8]

. This finding shifts the focus from demand-side barriers (e.g., lack of general knowledge) to supply-side failure in logistics and communication. This can be conceptualized using the Penchansky and Thomas model of access to care, where the dimensions of accessibility (geographic reach) and accommodation (organization of service) are clearly failing

[14]

. The public knows why to screen, but not where and how to do so affordably and conveniently.

Regarding screening strategies, it is important to emphasize that Human Papilloma Virus Deoxyribonucleic Acid (HPV DNA) testing is increasingly recommended as a primary tool but remains limited in Cameroon due to cost and laboratory requirements

[12]

. Cytology retains diagnostic relevance, while VIA, although useful in resource-constrained settings, has lower accuracy and should not replace more reliable tests where feasible

[13, 14]

The role of no family history of screening (AOR: 1.24) further emphasizes the importance of social normative behavior and community health promotion in driving uptake

[15, 16]

Strengths

1) This study provides contemporary evidence from a large urban district, complementing mainly rural data available from Cameroon

[6]

2) It examines multiple dimensions—socio-demographic, economic, and informational—allowing for a multidimensional understanding of barriers.

3) Multivariate analysis strengthens internal validity of observed associations.

Limitations

1) Convenience sampling may limit representativeness.

2) Screening history was self-reported and subject to recall or social desirability bias.

3) Some subgroups were small, leading to wide confidence intervals and reduced precision.

4) The cross-sectional design precludes causal inference.

5. Conclusion

Cervical cancer screening uptake in this urban setting remains critically low. The findings suggest that socioeconomic constraints and limited awareness of existing screening centres play a substantial role. While the study identifies several potentially modifiable factors, additional operational research is needed to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of targeted strategies—such as improving service visibility, reducing financial barriers, and integrating screening into routine care—before large-scale implementation. Strengthening community-level communication and improving affordability may offer practical entry points for intervention.

Abbreviations

AOR	Adjusted Odds Ratio
CC	Cervical Cancer
CI	Confidence Interval
DNA	Deoxyribonucleic
HBM	Health Belief Model
HPV	Human Papillomavirus
PSNPLCa	National Strategic Plan for Cancer Prevention and Control
SPSS	Statistical Package for the Social Sciences
VIA	Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid
WHO	World Health Organization

Acknowledgments

We sincerely thank all the women who participated in the study.

Author Contributions

Berthe Sabine Esson Mapoko: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal Analysis, Methodology, Project administration, Resources, Supervision, Validation, Visualization, Writing – review & editing

Lyda Saurelle Kom: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal Analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Project administration, Resources, Software, Writing – original draft

Esther Dina Bell: Validation, Visualization, Writing – review & editing

Veronique Batoum Mboua: Validation, Visualization, Writing – review & editing

Etienne Atenguena: Validation, Visualization, Writing – review & editing

Lionel Tabola: Validation, Visualization, Writing – review & editing

Glwadys Madjoumo: Validation, Visualization, Writing – review & editing

Ronny Kamtcheu: Validation, Visualization, Writing – review & editing

Zacharie Sando: Validation, Visualization, Writing – review & editing

Louise Ngo Likeng: Conceptualization, Project administration, Supervision, Validation, Visualization, Writing – review & editing

Funding

No external funding was received.

Data Availability Statement

The data is available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

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[2]	Sung H, Ferlay J, Laversanne L, Mery L, O’Brien M, Saraceni D, et al. Global Cancer Statistics 2022: GLOBOCAN Estimates of Incidence and Mortality Worldwide for 36 Cancers in 185 Countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2025 Jan; 75(1): 17-48. https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21262
[3]	World Health Organization. Global strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem. Geneva: WHO; 2020.
[4]	Ministry of Public Health, Cameroon. National Strategic Plan for Cancer Prevention and Control (PSNPLCa) 2020-2024. 2020. Available from: https://www.iccp-portal.org/sites/default/files/plans/FINAL%20COPY%20PSNPLCa%20FRENCH.pdf
[5]	Bruni L, Saura-Lázaro A, Montoliu A, Brotons M. Cervical cancer screening programs and policies in the six WHO regions. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol. 2022 Feb; 34(1): 31-43. https://doi.org/10.1097/GCO.0000000000000780
[6]	Okyere I, Antaon O, Ndom P. Prevalence and determinants of cervical cancer screening uptake among women in a rural setting of Cameroon. Int J Womens Health. 2021 Mar; 13: 301-8. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJWH.S299595
[7]	Maseko, W. N., Huang, D., & Lin, C. Factors affecting cervical screening using the health belief model during the last decade: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. J Adv Nurs. 2024 Jan; 80(1): e33-e45. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15873
[8]	Glanz, K., Rimer, B. K., & Viswanath, K. Health Behavior: Theory, Research, and Practice (5th ed.). Jossey-Bass; 2015.
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[10]	Yimer NB, Mohammed MA, Solomon K, et al. Cervical cancer screening uptake in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Public Health. 2021 Jun; 195: 105-111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2021.04.014
[11]	Awuah, F., et al. Uptake of cervical cancer screening and its associated factors in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Public Health. 2025; 25: 12398011. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-08182-1
[12]	Antaon O, Ndom P, Essono O. Barriers to cervical cancer screening in Yaoundé, Cameroon: a cross-sectional study. Int J Community Med Public Health. 2021 Jul; 8(7): 3481-90. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20212658
[13]	Aboufaras O, Essam H, Tazi M. Knowledge and perception regarding cervical cancer and screening among women in Rabat, Morocco. Afr J Reprod Health. 2022 Sep; 26(9): 41-50. https://doi.org/10.29063/ajrh2022/v26i9.4
[14]	Penchansky R, Thomas JW. The concept of access: definition and relationship to consumer satisfaction. Med Care. 1981 Feb; 19(2): 127-40. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005650-198102000-00001
[15]	Datchoua Moukam V, Zola K, Essomba F, et al. "Cervical cancer screening: awareness is not enough". Understanding barriers to screening among women in West Cameroon—a qualitative study using focus groups. Reprod Health. 2021 Aug; 18: 147. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-021-01185-9
[16]	Ndikom CM, Saka AO, Oluwasola TAO, et al. The Need for Integration of Cervical Cancer Screening into Family Planning Services among women in Ibadan, Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study. Pan Afr Sci J. 2024; 2(2): 37-45.

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Mapoko, B. S. E., Kom, L. S., Bell, E. D., Mboua, V. B., Atenguena, E., et al. (2025). Determinants of Low Uptake of Cervical Cancer Screening Among Sexually Active Women in an Urban Health District in Cameroon. Cancer Research Journal, 13(4), 167-172. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.crj.20251304.13

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Mapoko, B. S. E.; Kom, L. S.; Bell, E. D.; Mboua, V. B.; Atenguena, E., et al. Determinants of Low Uptake of Cervical Cancer Screening Among Sexually Active Women in an Urban Health District in Cameroon. Cancer Res. J. 2025, 13(4), 167-172. doi: 10.11648/j.crj.20251304.13

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AMA Style

Mapoko BSE, Kom LS, Bell ED, Mboua VB, Atenguena E, et al. Determinants of Low Uptake of Cervical Cancer Screening Among Sexually Active Women in an Urban Health District in Cameroon. Cancer Res J. 2025;13(4):167-172. doi: 10.11648/j.crj.20251304.13

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@article{10.11648/j.crj.20251304.13,
  author = {Berthe Sabine Esson Mapoko and Lyda Saurelle Kom and Esther Dina Bell and Veronique Batoum Mboua and Etienne Atenguena and Lionel Tabola and Glwadys Madjoumo and Ronny Kamtcheu and Zacharie Sando and Louise Ngo Likeng},
  title = {Determinants of Low Uptake of Cervical Cancer Screening Among Sexually Active Women in an Urban Health District in Cameroon},
  journal = {Cancer Research Journal},
  volume = {13},
  number = {4},
  pages = {167-172},
  doi = {10.11648/j.crj.20251304.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.crj.20251304.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.crj.20251304.13},
  abstract = {Background: Cervical cancer remains a major public health concern in low- and middle-income countries. Screening uptake in Cameroon is far below the World Health Organization’s elimination targets. This study assessed socio-demographic, economic, and informational determinants of low cervical cancer screening uptake among sexually active women in an urban district of Yaoundé. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September to October 2023 in the Biyem-Assi Health District. A convenience sample of 250 sexually active women aged 25–59 years completed a pre-tested structured questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with non-participation. Significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Overall, 89.0% of participants had never been screened. Independent predictors of non-participation were being single (AOR 5.79; 95% CI 3.60–9.45), lack of awareness of screening centers (AOR 5.02; 95% CI 1.24–20.29), no health insurance (AOR 3.91; 95% CI 1.70–8.98), poor knowledge of cervical cancer (AOR 3.16; 95% CI 1.12–8.94), unemployment (AOR 2.16; 95% CI 1.18-4.00), and having ≤1 child (AOR 1.94; 95% CI 1.21-3.12). Conclusion: Cervical cancer screening uptake is critically low in this urban population. The main barriers relate to socioeconomic vulnerability and lack of specific information on where screening services are offered. Improving service visibility, reducing costs, and integrating screening into routine health services may help increase uptake, although further research is required to evaluate feasibility and impact.},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY - JOUR
T1 - Determinants of Low Uptake of Cervical Cancer Screening Among Sexually Active Women in an Urban Health District in Cameroon
AU - Berthe Sabine Esson Mapoko
AU - Lyda Saurelle Kom
AU - Esther Dina Bell
AU - Veronique Batoum Mboua
AU - Etienne Atenguena
AU - Lionel Tabola
AU - Glwadys Madjoumo
AU - Ronny Kamtcheu
AU - Zacharie Sando
AU - Louise Ngo Likeng
Y1 - 2025/12/29
PY - 2025
N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.crj.20251304.13
DO - 10.11648/j.crj.20251304.13
T2 - Cancer Research Journal
JF - Cancer Research Journal
JO - Cancer Research Journal
SP - 167
EP - 172
PB - Science Publishing Group
SN - 2330-8214
UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.crj.20251304.13
AB - Background: Cervical cancer remains a major public health concern in low- and middle-income countries. Screening uptake in Cameroon is far below the World Health Organization’s elimination targets. This study assessed socio-demographic, economic, and informational determinants of low cervical cancer screening uptake among sexually active women in an urban district of Yaoundé. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September to October 2023 in the Biyem-Assi Health District. A convenience sample of 250 sexually active women aged 25–59 years completed a pre-tested structured questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with non-participation. Significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Overall, 89.0% of participants had never been screened. Independent predictors of non-participation were being single (AOR 5.79; 95% CI 3.60–9.45), lack of awareness of screening centers (AOR 5.02; 95% CI 1.24–20.29), no health insurance (AOR 3.91; 95% CI 1.70–8.98), poor knowledge of cervical cancer (AOR 3.16; 95% CI 1.12–8.94), unemployment (AOR 2.16; 95% CI 1.18-4.00), and having ≤1 child (AOR 1.94; 95% CI 1.21-3.12). Conclusion: Cervical cancer screening uptake is critically low in this urban population. The main barriers relate to socioeconomic vulnerability and lack of specific information on where screening services are offered. Improving service visibility, reducing costs, and integrating screening into routine health services may help increase uptake, although further research is required to evaluate feasibility and impact.
VL - 13
IS - 4
ER -

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Author Information

Berthe Sabine Esson Mapoko

Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon

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http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4469-5222
Lyda Saurelle Kom

School of Health Sciences, Catholic University of Central Africa, Yaounde, Cameroon

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Esther Dina Bell

Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon

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http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7890-1093
Veronique Batoum Mboua

Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon

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Etienne Atenguena

Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon

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http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1556-4389
Lionel Tabola

Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon

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Glwadys Madjoumo

Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon

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Ronny Kamtcheu

Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon

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Zacharie Sando

Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon

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Louise Ngo Likeng

School of Health Sciences, Catholic University of Central Africa, Yaounde, Cameroon

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Mapoko, B. S. E., Kom, L. S., Bell, E. D., Mboua, V. B., Atenguena, E., et al. (2025). Determinants of Low Uptake of Cervical Cancer Screening Among Sexually Active Women in an Urban Health District in Cameroon. Cancer Research Journal, 13(4), 167-172. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.crj.20251304.13

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Mapoko, B. S. E.; Kom, L. S.; Bell, E. D.; Mboua, V. B.; Atenguena, E., et al. Determinants of Low Uptake of Cervical Cancer Screening Among Sexually Active Women in an Urban Health District in Cameroon. Cancer Res. J. 2025, 13(4), 167-172. doi: 10.11648/j.crj.20251304.13

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AMA Style

Mapoko BSE, Kom LS, Bell ED, Mboua VB, Atenguena E, et al. Determinants of Low Uptake of Cervical Cancer Screening Among Sexually Active Women in an Urban Health District in Cameroon. Cancer Res J. 2025;13(4):167-172. doi: 10.11648/j.crj.20251304.13

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@article{10.11648/j.crj.20251304.13,
  author = {Berthe Sabine Esson Mapoko and Lyda Saurelle Kom and Esther Dina Bell and Veronique Batoum Mboua and Etienne Atenguena and Lionel Tabola and Glwadys Madjoumo and Ronny Kamtcheu and Zacharie Sando and Louise Ngo Likeng},
  title = {Determinants of Low Uptake of Cervical Cancer Screening Among Sexually Active Women in an Urban Health District in Cameroon},
  journal = {Cancer Research Journal},
  volume = {13},
  number = {4},
  pages = {167-172},
  doi = {10.11648/j.crj.20251304.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.crj.20251304.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.crj.20251304.13},
  abstract = {Background: Cervical cancer remains a major public health concern in low- and middle-income countries. Screening uptake in Cameroon is far below the World Health Organization’s elimination targets. This study assessed socio-demographic, economic, and informational determinants of low cervical cancer screening uptake among sexually active women in an urban district of Yaoundé. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September to October 2023 in the Biyem-Assi Health District. A convenience sample of 250 sexually active women aged 25–59 years completed a pre-tested structured questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with non-participation. Significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Overall, 89.0% of participants had never been screened. Independent predictors of non-participation were being single (AOR 5.79; 95% CI 3.60–9.45), lack of awareness of screening centers (AOR 5.02; 95% CI 1.24–20.29), no health insurance (AOR 3.91; 95% CI 1.70–8.98), poor knowledge of cervical cancer (AOR 3.16; 95% CI 1.12–8.94), unemployment (AOR 2.16; 95% CI 1.18-4.00), and having ≤1 child (AOR 1.94; 95% CI 1.21-3.12). Conclusion: Cervical cancer screening uptake is critically low in this urban population. The main barriers relate to socioeconomic vulnerability and lack of specific information on where screening services are offered. Improving service visibility, reducing costs, and integrating screening into routine health services may help increase uptake, although further research is required to evaluate feasibility and impact.},
 year = {2025}
}

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