Influence of Health Worker Training on Cervical Cancer Health Information Utilization among Healthcare Workers Machakos County, Kenya

Abstract

Background: Worldwide, cervical cancer is one of the more common forms of carcinoma among women, causing high morbidity and high mortality. Globally and locally major strides have been achieved in fighting CC including early screening and vaccinations including HPV vaccine. Accurate, timely and reliable information accessibility and utilization is instrumental in informing decision making towards prevention and management of all diseases. Despite being a major health problem in Kenya, screening services for cervical cancer are available; however, the use of information after screening is scarcely used. We therefore conducted a study to investigate utilization of cancer screening services information, and its associated factors among health care providers in selected hospitals in Machakos County. Method: The study adopted analytical cross-sectional survey that used both qualitative and quantitative methods. The study design involved administering interviews and questionnaires to a sample of the population. The target population comprised of health workers who are involved in cervical data collection, those who work at reproductive health department and those at management level. Risk factors for services utilization were assessed using logistic regression analysis. Results: Out of 283 participants, only 273 (96.4 %) duly completed the questionnaires. Utilization of cervical cancer data was 41.3 % among those the participants. Use of cervical cancer data for patient follow up was 43.04 times more likely to improve cervical data utilization than using the data for determining cervical cancer coverage (AOR=43.044, 95% CI [16.087-115.174], P< .001). Also, using the collected data for budgeting and planning was 10.88 more likely to improve cervical cancer data utilization than using the data for determining cervical cancer coverage (AOR=10.887, 95% CI [3.208-36.884], P< .001). The participants who were trained on cervical cancer data interpretation were 3.818 times more likely to utilize cervical cancer data than those who were not trained (AOR=3.818, 95% CI [1.839-7.928], P< .001). Conclusion: The study has demonstrated use of the collected data and training of health care workers on interpretation of the data was key factors that can improve utilization of cervical cancer data.