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PRESENTATION AND HEALTH CARE SEEKING BEAAVIOUR OF PATIENTS WITH CERVICAL CANCER SEEN AT MU1 TEACHING AND REFERRAL HOSPITAL, ELDORET, KENYA
Abstract
Objective: TO determine the clinicopathological characteristics and health care seeking
behaviour of cervical cancer patients seen at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH).
Design: Prospective cross-sectional study.
Sefting: Gynaecology Unit, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital {MTRH). Eldoret, Kenya.
Subjects: Forty two consecutive cervical cancer patients seen at MT'RH gynaecology unit
between May 1998 and Novrmber 1999.
Results: I'he mean age of the patients was 49.4 years (YS%CI 45.4 to 53.3 years) range 24 to
80 years. All had been married and 42.9% had been in polygamous unions. Slightly more
than seventy six per cent had had five or more confirmed pregnancies Contraceptive everuse
was 22%. The mean duration of clinical symptoms on presentation at MTRH was 8.2
months (95% '01 6.5 to 9.8 months) range I to24 months. Female relatives and husbands were
the firstto be told about the symptoms by 90.3% oft he patients and husbands alone by 48.8 %
of the patients. More than ninety per cent of patients sought health for the first time at a
facility manned by trained health worker, with 39% visiting a dispensary ur health centre
first, More than 95 % of patknb had tumour stage 2 and above. Histopathulogically, 80.9%
of the tumours were squamous cell carcinoma, 11.9 % were adenocarcinoma while the rest
were anaplastic.
Conclusion: Patients with cervical cancer present late for treatment at MTRH. They are
most likely to have discussed their illness with their female relatives and husbands and tu
have first visited peripheral facilities manned by trained healthcare workers. Interventions
to improve health care seeking behaviour among cervical cancer patients need to include
education of husbands in addition to increasing awareness of the disease among private
medical practitioners and health workers at dispensary and health centre level.
behaviour of cervical cancer patients seen at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH).
Design: Prospective cross-sectional study.
Sefting: Gynaecology Unit, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital {MTRH). Eldoret, Kenya.
Subjects: Forty two consecutive cervical cancer patients seen at MT'RH gynaecology unit
between May 1998 and Novrmber 1999.
Results: I'he mean age of the patients was 49.4 years (YS%CI 45.4 to 53.3 years) range 24 to
80 years. All had been married and 42.9% had been in polygamous unions. Slightly more
than seventy six per cent had had five or more confirmed pregnancies Contraceptive everuse
was 22%. The mean duration of clinical symptoms on presentation at MTRH was 8.2
months (95% '01 6.5 to 9.8 months) range I to24 months. Female relatives and husbands were
the firstto be told about the symptoms by 90.3% oft he patients and husbands alone by 48.8 %
of the patients. More than ninety per cent of patients sought health for the first time at a
facility manned by trained health worker, with 39% visiting a dispensary ur health centre
first, More than 95 % of patknb had tumour stage 2 and above. Histopathulogically, 80.9%
of the tumours were squamous cell carcinoma, 11.9 % were adenocarcinoma while the rest
were anaplastic.
Conclusion: Patients with cervical cancer present late for treatment at MTRH. They are
most likely to have discussed their illness with their female relatives and husbands and tu
have first visited peripheral facilities manned by trained healthcare workers. Interventions
to improve health care seeking behaviour among cervical cancer patients need to include
education of husbands in addition to increasing awareness of the disease among private
medical practitioners and health workers at dispensary and health centre level.
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