Background: Cervical cancer is the second most common and the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among female cancers. Globally a marked increase has been predicted, especially in developing countries with 58% cases and 63% deaths to 2025. Despite this fact, very few women have received screening services in Ethiopia. Ethiopia has a strategic goal to reduce cancer incidence and mortality by 15% by 2020 of which cervical cancer is the priority.

Objective: To assess cervical cancer screening practice and its associated factor among women of reproductive age in Dilla Town, Southern Ethiopia, 2025

Methodology: A community-based cross-sectional study was be conducted among 599 eligible women of reproductive age residing in Dilla town from April,2025 to August 2025. A multi-stage sampling approach was implemented to ensure representative involvement. Structured questionnaires in the Amharic language were used. The data cleaned and analyzed by SPSS version 27. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the results and bivariate and multivariate logistic regression has done to identify associated factors for cervical cancer screening practice.

Result

In this study, 592 females of reproductive age participated with a response rate of 98.7%. Eighty-four 14.2% 95% CI= (11.1 - 15.7) of participants were screened for cervical cancer in the study area before the study. A total of 295 (25.8%) participants were knowledgeable about cervical cancer and screening, and those who were knowledgeable were about 3.5 times more likely to undergo screening compared with those who were not (95% CI: 1.63 –7.47). About 228 (39%) participants had heard about cervical cancer from media sources, and these participants were nearly 1.9 times more likely to be screened compared with those who had not (95% CI: 1.04–3.49). In addition, 261 (44.1%) participants who received health education were about 6 times more likely to undergo screening (95% CI: 3–14).

Conclusion and Recommendations

Cervical cancer screening uptake among reproductive-age women in Dilla town was low. Knowledge, perceived barriers, media exposure, monthly income, and health education were key predictors. Efforts should focus on raising awareness and improving attitudes through health education using various communication channels.

MISIKIR ALEMU