TITLE:
Integration of Cervical Cancer Screening Services in the Routine Examinations Offered in the Kenyan Health Facilities: A Systematic Review
AUTHORS:
Florence Munoru, Lucy Gitonga, Moses Muraya
KEYWORDS:
Utilization of Cervical Cancer Screening Services, Factors Affecting Uptake, Integration of Routine Services, Health Education and Cervical Cancer Screening, Creation of Awareness on Cervical Cancer Screening
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.9 No.5,
May
21,
2019
ABSTRACT: Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer
among women and the leading cause of deaths among women worldwide. In Kenya,
uptake of screening services is at 3.2% below the targeted of 70%. Therefore,
there is need to study the factors that lead to low uptake of the screening
services. One way of increasing the uptake of the screening
services is its integration with other routine services, thus
leading to a reduction in morbidity and mortality rates associated with the
disease. The objective of this study was to review and
examine the importance of integrating cervical cancer screening services in the
routine examinations offered in the Kenyan health facilities. A retrospective
study design was adopted by this study. The review of articles, journals, strategic
plans was done from the year 2012 to 2017. Data sources included Medline, PMC,
Library, Pubmed, Google scholar, cancer prevention plans and strategies. About
28 data sources were reviewed with 78.5% indicating that increased knowledge and
creation of awareness on cervical cancer would greatly improve the utilization
of the screening services. More than 87% of the information collected among
published work in Kenya demonstrated that knowledge on importance cervical
cancer screening is inadequate. The primary results of this study suggest that
all women of reproductive age (WRA) should undergo cervical cancer screening as
a routine service. An integration approach should be adopted, to enhance
knowledge on cervical cancer and the importance of screening, causes,
preventive and treatment options. The study recommends that,
the Government of Kenya through the Ministry of health should include cervical
cancer screening as a routine procedure for all WRA.