Relationship between channels of communication, knowledge, and utilization of cervical cancer screening services among women in Chileka, rural Blantyre District, Malawi

Abstract

The alarmingly high prevalence of cervical cancer and deaths due to it among women in Malawi implores a solution to reduce the disease. In their efforts towards the same, the Malawi government and other stakeholders provide free screening services and also have strived to increase the knowledge of the disease among women in the country which other studies have suggested positively affects the utilization of the services. Despite these efforts, the level of utilization of the services is still low. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to assess the moderating effect of channels of communication on the relationship between knowledge of cervical cancer and the utilization of the services among women in Traditional Authority (T/A) Kuntaja, rural Blantyre district, Malawi. This analytical cross-sectional study collected quantitative data using a questionnaire translated in Chichewa with closed-ended questions from 428 women aged between 30-49 years selected from 19 villages from T/A Kuntaja using multistage sampling. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient, and moderated regression analysis. Findings revealed that the level of overall knowledge of cervical cancer among the women in the study area was 29% (very poor). The level of knowledge of the description and causes of the disease was average (79%) and above average (81%), respectively, whereas the level of knowledge of risk factors, symptoms, prevention, treatment, and side-effects of its treatment was very poor, ranging from 13% to 43%. In general, channels of communication did not make a significant difference in women’s knowledge of cervical cancer but it made a difference in their utilization of screening services. Knowledge of cervical cancer has a significant positive relationship with utilization of screening services but channels of communication have no significant moderating effect on this relationship. The level of knowledge of cervical cancer among the women in the study area could be increased when effective communication channels, uniquely designed and taking into consideration women’s specific socio-demographic characteristics. In addition, the information about cervical cancer communicated through these channels could enhance knowledge that can influence the utilization of screening services. Keywords: channels of communication, knowledge of cervical cancer, utilization of cervical cancer screening services