Assessment of Ethical Issues Among Women Attending Cervical Cancer Screening in Public Health Facilities, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A Cross- Sectional Study
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2024-10
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: Cervical cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths among women,
resulting in 350,000 deaths worldwide in 2022. In Ethiopia, it is the second most
common cancer, with 8,168 cases reported. Screenings like visual inspection with acetic
acid (VIA) are essential for early detection, but challenges related to informed consent,
privacy, and confidentiality persists. This study aims to assess key ethical issues in
cervical cancer screening practices to enhance these programs.
Objectives: To assess ethical issues among women attending cervical cancer screening in
public health facilities in Addis Ababa.
Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted at selected governmental health centers
and referral hospitals, involving 422 women undergoing cervical cancer screening. Data
analyzed using SPSS Statistics 27. Descriptive analyses assessed frequencies of privacy,
confidentiality, and informed consent issues, while chi-square tests examined
relationships among variables.
Results: Participants reported high satisfaction, with 97.4% noting positive interactions
with health workers and 98.6% receiving clear information. However, 5% experienced
privacy concerns during examinations, and 3.3% reported unauthorized information
disclosure. Significant associations were found: marital status influenced confidentiality
assurance (p = .010), facility type affected confidentiality (p < .001), and both age (p =
.005) and employment status (p = .022) impacted information clarity.
Conclusion: High satisfaction with cervical cancer screening exists in Addis Ababa, but
privacy and confidentiality concerns remain.
Recommendation: Enhance ethical practices through improved privacy measures,
provider training, and patient involvement; use qualitative research to assess impact.
Description
Keywords
Ethical issues, Privacy, Confidentiality, Informed consent, Cervical Cancer Screening, Cervical Cancer.