Practice of Screening for Precancerous Cervical Lesions in Koumpentoum Health District (Senegal)

Introduction: Cervical cancer is preventable through vaccination against papillomaviruses and screening for precancerous lesions. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of screening practice and to identify associated factors. Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study. Data were collected from individual interviews during household surveys. Data collection took place from (1st) to (30th) September (2021). The following were explored: socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitudes and practices of women regarding screening. Results: A total of (294) women aged between (18) and (69) years were included. The mean age was (35.79) years (±9.81). The median age was (34) years. The frequency of screening was (16%); that of precancerous lesions was (4.26%). Factors statistically and significantly associated with screening uptake were cervical cancer information (OR = 5.42 (1.27 - 23.16); p = 0.003), knowledge of the availability of screening (ORa = 7.73 (3.01 - 18.51); p - 7.31); p = 0.014). Conclusion: Frequency of pre-cancerous lesions of cervical cancer is high in Koumpentoum health district (4.26%), while the practice of screening is low there (16%). The factors associated with this low performance are related to a lack of adequate knowledge of women about cervical cancer.