Impact of cervical cancer–related stigma on screening uptake in Dakar and Kedougou, Senegal: A context-specific stigma index

@article{seck2026impact,
  title = {{Impact of cervical cancer–related stigma on screening uptake in Dakar and Kedougou, Senegal: A context-specific stigma index}},
  author = {Fatou Bintou Seck and Saria Awadalla and Fatoumata Binetou Diongue and Ibrahima Ndiaye and Omar Gassama and Ndeye Mbombe Dieng and Adja Maguette Diaw and Hilaire Sarr and Victoria Winslow and Ndèye Marème Sougou and Sarah Abboud and Assane Sall and Alexis Claire Klima and Aida Fall and Aida Barro and Blessings Chisunkha and Ahmadou Babana El Alaoui and Aliath Salami and Jon Andrew Dykens and Caryn Elizabeth Peterson and Adama Faye},
  journal = {PLOS Global Public Health},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1371/journal.pgph.0006187},
  url = {https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0006187},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Impact of cervical cancer–related stigma on screening uptake in Dakar and Kedougou, Senegal: A context-specific stigma index
AU  - Fatou Bintou Seck
AU  - Saria Awadalla
AU  - Fatoumata Binetou Diongue
AU  - Ibrahima Ndiaye
AU  - Omar Gassama
AU  - Ndeye Mbombe Dieng
AU  - Adja Maguette Diaw
AU  - Hilaire Sarr
AU  - Victoria Winslow
AU  - Ndèye Marème Sougou
AU  - Sarah Abboud
AU  - Assane Sall
AU  - Alexis Claire Klima
AU  - Aida Fall
AU  - Aida Barro
AU  - Blessings Chisunkha
AU  - Ahmadou Babana El Alaoui
AU  - Aliath Salami
AU  - Jon Andrew Dykens
AU  - Caryn Elizabeth Peterson
AU  - Adama Faye
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/08
JO  - PLOS Global Public Health
DO  - 10.1371/journal.pgph.0006187
UR  - https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0006187
AB  - Cervical cancer is a major public health problem, but it can be prevented through screening and treatment of precancerous lesions. The aim of this study was to assess the association between cervical cancer-related stigma and prior cervical cancer screening uptake among women in the Dakar and Kédougou regions of Senegal. A quantitative descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was carried out in the Dakar and Kédougou regions. The study population consisted of women aged 25–69. Sampling was based on a two-stage cluster sampling methodology. Past participation in screening was self-reported, and an index of stigma was developed to quantify the level of cervical cancer related stigma in the study population. The items used to develop this index covered several domains that have been shown to be powerful predictors of stigma. Data were analyzed with R 4.5.0 software. Logistic regression was performed (5% alpha). A total of 287 women had data on their screening status, with only 15.7% reporting having undergone one or more screenings in the past. The mean age of participants was 36.23, and the majority (68.6%) were married and living in monogamous households. After adjustment for age, marital status and education level, higher stigma scores were associated with lower odds of screening (OR=0.58, 95% CI 0.38-0.83, p = 0.006). Cervical cancer stigma was significantly associated with lower odds of screening uptake. A better understanding of this barrier will enable us to better adapt strategies to combat this disease. Setting up a navigation program for this screening could help improve access to this service by removing the stigma barrier and any other major obstacle to screening. Our stigma index provides a comprehensive assessment of stigma and represents a novel tool that can be adapted for future research, including the evaluation of stigma reduction following implementation of our patient navigation intervention.
SN  - 2767-3375
ER  -