Dr. Flemmings Ngwira

Dr. Flemmings Ngwira

Co-author

Language & Communication Studies

10 publications

Flemmings Ngwira is a Senior Lecturer at Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS) and the current Head of the Academic Department; Language and Communication. He holds a PhD in Applied Psychology (Health Communication) and besides teaching and doing consultancies, he supervises and...

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Knowledge of Cervical Cancer and Prevalence of the Screening Services among HIV-Infected Women in Blantyre, Malawi

Journal Article
Published 1 year ago, 422 views
Author
Jessie Mkandawire
Co-authors
Fresier Chidyaonga Maseko, Dr. Flemmings Ngwira
Abstract
HIV-infected women are at high risk of developing cervical cancer and are encouraged to undergo cervical cancer screening regularly. However, very little has been documented about the knowledge of cervical cancer and the utilization of the screening services by these women. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge of cervical cancer, prevalence of cervical cancer screening uptake and predictive factors that affect utilization of cervical cancer screening services among HIV-infected women. The study employed quantitative methods for data collection and analysis. It was conducted at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) from December 2017 to February 2018 where HIV-positive patients accessing QECH Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) clinic were recruited. Systematic random sampling was employed to select HIV-positive women for the survey. Data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires. STATA version 12 was used to analyze the data. Out of the 196 recruited women, the majority (98%; n = 192) indicated having heard of cervical cancer and of the 192 women, only 57% (n = 109) were able to know at least a single sign/symptom of cervical cancer, furthermore, only 47% (n = 91) indicated ever been screened, finally, getting information from health facilities and knowing at least a single sign/symptom of cervical cancer influenced HIV-infected women to go for cervical cancer screening services. The study revealed that knowledge of cervical cancer and the utilization of its screening services among HIV-infected women is low. Therefore, there is need to increase knowledge and strengthen cervical cancer screening services among HIV-infected women in the country.
Year of Publication
2020
Journal Name
Health
Volume
12
Issue
1
Page Numbers
1496-1510
Supporting Files
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