Exploring perception of rural women's towards cervical cancer and its screening in Sadi Chanka district, West Ethiopia: A qualitative study.

Abstract Background: Cervical cancer is the fourth common cancer affecting women's reproductive oegans and challenges faced by women in worldwide. Cervical cancer screening is a public health intervention used on a population at risk, or target population to diagnose a disease. Effective screening programs reduce morbidity and mortality associated with this cancer. Objective: To explore perceptions of rural women's towards cervical cancer and its screening among women in Sadi Chanka district, Oromia, west Ethiopia. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted using in-depth interviews to explore perceptions of rural women's towards cervical cancer and its screening among women in Sadi Chanka district, west Ethiopia from May 1 to May 30, 2022. A qualitative study design was employed and the study participants were acquired using heterogeneous purposive sampling techniques. In total, 9 interviews were conducted using in-depth interviews and key informant interview methods. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis manually. Thematic analysis were performed in order to extract the main themes, categories and codes. Direct quotations were presented with a thick description of the findings. Results: A total of nine participants participated in in-depth interviews. The findings of this study were discussed under three themes and 7 categories which emerged from thematic analysis of the data. Awareness of cervical cancer and its screening, awareness of the risk factors, and syptoms of cervical cancer, Availability, accessibility and affordability of the service, gender prefer for screening and prevention and treatment of cervical cancer perception. Conclusion: This study indicates that rural women's in the study area had low perceived about cervical cancer and its screening, health service related factors and perception of women's on prevention and treatment of cervical cancer were the key reasons for rural women's not cervical cancer screening. To improve cervical cancer and its screening, effort should be focused on enhancing positive perception of rural women's.