Determinants of Cervical Cancer Screening Uptake Among Women in Aburaso, Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Cervical cancer remains a major health threat, especially in Ghana, due to low screening uptake. Despite the availability of prevention, participation is limited particularly in peri-urban areas with unique barriers; making it crucial to understand the reasons for non-utilization to reduce the disease burden. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study of 427 women of reproductive age at Aburaso Hospital used stratified random sampling and structured questionnaires. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 26, utilizing descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and logistic regression to identify key factors associated with cervical cancer screening uptake. Results: Screening uptake was low at 18.3% despite moderate awareness. Chi-square analysis showed that education level (p = 0.006), awareness (p < 0.001), marital status (p = 0.015), and stigma (p = 0.003) were significantly associated with screening uptake. Logistic regression revealed that tertiary education (aOR = 2.4, p = 0.012), awareness (aOR = 3.1, p < 0.001), willingness to undergo free screening (aOR = 2.8, p = 0.001), and perceived stigma (aOR = 0.5, p = 0.025) remained significant independent predictors. Conclusion: There is a considerable disconnect between awareness and actual screening for cervical cancer among women in Aburaso, driven by individual, institutional, and community barriers. Key factors influencing uptake include education, awareness, willingness, and absence of stigma. Improving screening rates will require culturally tailored education, enhanced provider engagement, financial support, and efforts to reduce community stigma.