Role of Interpersonal Communication Channels in the Uptake of Cervical Cancer Screening among Women in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya
Keywords:
Interpersonal Communication Channels, Cervical Cancer ScreeningAbstract
Cervical cancer remains a serious health challenge in the developing world due to various reasons. Among these reasons are low uptake of screening services owing to poor access to reliable information about cervical cancer, role of screening and treatment options. This paper examines the role of interpersonal communication channels in the uptake of cervical cancers screening services among women in Uasin Gishu County. The study was guided by Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) theory. It utilized mixed methods research design. The target population of the study was all women within the reproductive age of 18-65 years seeking maternal child health services and family planning (MCH-FP) at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya. The study used systematic random sampling method to obtain a sample of 308 from the population. Purposive sampling was used for the key informants, namely 4 health workers and 2 County officers from the Ministry of Health. Two focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted among women with each group composed of 10 women. Data from the FGDs and key informant interviews were used to generate qualitative data. For quantitative data, the study utilized questionnaires for data collection. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics with the aid of SPSS, version 29. Qualitative data was analysed thematically. The study found that women rely on several channels of communication to access and disseminate cervical cancer information. The most common channels of communication used are friends, health care workers and media channels. From the study findings, it is also concluded that interpersonal communication channels play a key role in the uptake of cervical cancer screening. As such, it is recommended that the major stakeholders, namely the national and county governments, together with non-governmental organizations working in the health sector in Kenya, should make deliberate efforts to formulate policies to guide effective dissemination of cervical cancer messages for prevention, early detection and treatment of cervical cancer.
References
. World Health Organization, “Factsheet: Cervical cancer”, 2022. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer
. Government of Kenya, “Kenya National Cancer Screening Guidelines”, Nairobi: Government Printers. 2018.
. G. J. Kreps, “The impact of communication on cancer risk, incidence, morbidity, mortality, and quality of life”, Health Commun., 15 (2), pp 161-9. 2003.
. J. Niederdeppe, D. L. Frosch & R. C. Hornik, “Cancer news coverage and information seeking”, J Health Commun., 13, pp 181-99. 2008.
. K. K. Stephens, R. N. Rimal & J. A. Flora, “Expanding the reach of health campaigns: community organizations as meta-channels for the dissemination of health information”, J Health Commun., 9 (Suppl 1), pp 97-111. 2004.
. M. Haider & G. Kreps, “Forty years of diffusion of innovations: utility and value in public health”, J Health Commun., 9 (Suppl 1), pp 3-11. 2004.
. I. Yanovitzky & C. L. Blitz, “Effect of media coverage and physician advice on utilization of breast cancer screening by women 40 years and older”, Journal of Health Communication, 5 (2), pp 117-134. 2000.
. Government of Kenya, “Kenya National Cancer Control Strategy (2011-2016)”, Nairobi: Government Printers. 2011.
. Government of Kenya, “National Guidelines for Prevention and Management of Cervical, Breast and Prostate Cancers”, Nairobi: Government Printer. 2012.
. Government of Kenya, “Kenya National Cancer Control Strategy (2017-2022)”, Nairobi: Government Printer. 2017.
. E. Were, Z. Nyaberi & N. Buziba, “Perceptions of risk and barriers to cervical cancer Screening at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), Eldoret, Kenya. African Health Sciences, 11 (1), pp 58-64. 2011.
. P. Karaimu & S. Kimotho, “Influence of Media Messages on Self-Efficacy Towards Cervical Cancer Screening among Women aged 18-30 Years in Kenya.” Conference paper. 2016. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/318532226
. R. M. Nyambane, “Influence of Electronic Media in Creating Cervical Cancer Awareness among Women Seeking Reproductive Health Services at the Kenyatta National Hospital Nairobi, Kenya (Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya). 2016.
. P. K. Karaimu, S. Kimotho & L. Komen, "Influence of Media Messages on Self-efficacy Towards Cervical Cancer Screening Among Women Aged 18-30 Years in Kiambu Institute of Science and Technology", Eastern African Multidisciplinary Applied Research Conference (EAMARC3), United States International University-Africa, Nairobi 15-17, November, 2016.
. E. M. Rogers, “Diffusion of Innovations (5th ed)”, New York: The Free Press. 2003.
. T. W. Valente, “Network Models of the Diffusion of Innovations”, Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Press. 1995.
. T. W. Valente, "Network models and methods for studying the diffusion of innovations", Models and Methods in Social Network Analysis, 28, pp 98-116. 2005.
. E. M. Rogers & A. Singhal, “Diffusion of Innovations,” in M. B. Salwen and D. W. Stacks, eds., An Integrated Approach to Communication Theory and Research (pp. 409-420). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum. 1996.
. J. M. Mutie, "Factors Influencing Demand For Cervical Cancer Screening Services In Health Facilities In Kenya: Acase Of Yatta Sub-county." PhD diss., University of Nairobi, 2014.
. R. Odhiambo, "Only 3% of women know causes of cervical cancer," The Star. 2017, February 7. Retrieved from https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/
. A. W. Gichogo, "Factors influencing utilization of cervical cancer screening services at Central Provincial General Hospital, Nyeri, Kenya," PhD diss., University of Nairobi, Kenya, 2012.
. Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation/Ministry of Medical Services (GOK). National Cervical Cancer Prevention Program: Strategic Plan (2012-2015). Nairobi: Government Printers, 2012.
. A. Duggan, "Understanding interpersonal communication processes across health contexts: Advances in the last decade and challenges for the next decade," Journal of Health Communication, 11, pp 93-108. 2006.
. T. W. Valente & R. Fosados, "Diffusion of innovations and network segmentation: The part played by people in promoting health," Sexually Transmitted Disease, 33, pp 23-31. 2006.
. E. Yoo & L. S. Robbins, "Understanding middle-aged women's health information seeking on the web: a theoretical approach," Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 59 (4), pp 577-590. 2008.
. H. Hendriks, “Let's talk about alcohol: The role of interpersonal communication and health campaigns,” Universiteit van Amsterdam [Host], 2013.
. L. Kabiri & G. Komuhangi, "Facilitators and Barriers to Cervical Cancer Screening among Female Undergraduate Students of Makerere University," Open Journal of Nursing, 11 (7), pp 620-641. 2021.
. N. A. Christakis & J. H. Fowler, “The collective dynamics of smoking in a large social network”, New England Journal of Medicine, 358, pp 2249-2258. 2008.
. K. P. Smith & N. A. Christakis, “Social networks and health”, Annual Review of Sociology, 34, pp 405-429. 2009.
. M. Mosavel & K. Ports, “Upward Communication about Cancer Screening-Adolescent Daughter to Mother”, Journal of Health Communication, 20 (6), pp 680-686. 2015.
. W. Courtenay, “Constructions of Masculinity and their Influence on Men’s Well-being: A Theory of Gender and Health”, Social Science & Medicine, 50, pp 1385-1401. 2000.
. R. Fuhrer & S. A. Stansfeld, “How gender affects patterns of social relations and their impact on health: a comparison of one or multiple sources of support from "close persons," Social Science and Medicine, 54 (5), pp 811-825. 2002.
. J. Perz, J. M. Ussher, P. Butow & G. Wain, “Gender differences in cancer carer psychological distress: an analysis of moderators and mediators”, European Journal of Cancer Care, 20 (5), pp 610-619. 2011.
. M. Gatumo, S. Gacheri, A. R. Sayed & A. Scheibe, “Women's knowledge and attitudes related to cervical cancer and cervical cancer screening in Isiolo and Tharaka Nithi counties, Kenya: a cross-sectional study”, BMC Cancer, 18 (1), pp 745. 2018.
. G. L. Kreps & E. Kunimoto, "Communicating in Multicultural Health Care Organizations", ERIC. (1994).
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2023 International Journal of Applied Sciences: Current and Future Research Trends
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Authors who submit papers with this journal agree to the following terms.
