Perceived barriers and facilitators to conventional cervical screening: a qualitative study among women, primary health workers and community representatives in Uganda
In Uganda, where cervical cancer is most common, research identifies key barriers preventing women from accessing free cancer screening despite service availability.
This multi-stakeholder qualitative study in Uganda (where cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women) maps the complex ecology of barriers preventing uptake of free VIA screening, spanning fear, stigma, partner opposition, and facility-level factors despite service availability. Community sensitization, decentralization of care, and integration of treatment access are identified as essential but currently insufficient facilitators.
What the study was
- Study design
- Qualitative focus group discussions (ecological framework thematic analysis)
- Population
- Women aged 25–65, health workers, and community representatives in Mukono and Wakiso, Uganda
- Sample size
- 124
- Category
- Early Detection
- Maturity
- Exploratory
- Journal
- BMC Health Services Research
Why it surfaced
High-burden LMiC setting (Uganda; cervical cancer most common cancer in women); qualitative depth across stakeholder types with social-ecological model framework provides actionable implementation insights.
A plain-language summary of published research — not medical advice. Talk to a clinician about your own care.