Factors associated with late-stage cervical cancer diagnosis in Northwest Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study
- 1Bahir Dar University College of Medical and Health Sciences
Abstract
BackgroundCervical cancer (CC), mostly associated with high-risk human papillomaviruses (hrHPV) infection, is the most common cancer that disproportionately affects women in developing countries, including Ethiopia. Early detection of CC and initiation of treatment are key to positive health outcomes. Identifying factors associated with delayed CC diagnosis is essential for effective prevention and control efforts. This study assessed the stage at diagnosis and examined associated clinical and sociodemographic factors.
MethodsAn institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 284 women newly diagnosed with CC who attended Tibebe Ghion Specialized Hospital (TGSH) between 1st January 2021 and 31st December 2022. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on the participants demographic, reproductive, and gynaecologic history, and clinical profiles. CC stage at diagnosis was categorised as early (stage I-IIA) or late (stage IIB-IV). Logistic regression models (unadjusted and adjusted) were used to examine associations of sociodemographic or clinical factors with stage at CC diagnosis.
ResultsThe mean age ({+/-}standard deviation) at presentation was 53.2 {+/-} 11.3 years, with an age range of 18 - 80 years. Most of the patients (73.6%) were from rural areas, and three-fifth (58.1%) had no medical insurance. Among participants, 74.6% (95% CI: 69.4, 79.6%) had late-stage CC. The odds of late-stage CC diagnosis were higher for women from rural areas (AOR: 2.21; 95% CI:1.18, 4.12; p<0.013), and those with anaemia (defined as <12 mg/dl haemoglobin) (AOR: 3.42; 95% CI: 1.88, 6.23; p<0.001). On the other hand, the odds of late-stage CC diagnosis were lower in HIV positive women (AOR:0.41; 95%CI:0.19, 0.88; p<0.021).
ConclusionThe proportion of late-stage diagnosis among CC patients was high. Residential area, anaemia status, and HIV serostatus were factors associated with stage at CC diagnosis. These findings can inform screening efforts of CC and call for expanding of the screening services to the rural setting in order to reduce the burden of late-stage CC diagnosis.
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BibTeX
@misc{asress2026factors,
title = {{Factors associated with late-stage cervical cancer diagnosis in Northwest Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study}},
author = {E. M. Asress and M. A. Yenesew and D. N. Weldetsadik and A. Derbie and D. A. Enquobahrie and T. B. Mersha and T. Z. Minas and R. Alemu and T. Workalemah},
howpublished = {medRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.64898/2026.09.25.26364043},
url = {https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.25.26364043v1},
note = {CC0},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Factors associated with late-stage cervical cancer diagnosis in Northwest Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study
AU - E. M. Asress
AU - M. A. Yenesew
AU - D. N. Weldetsadik
AU - A. Derbie
AU - D. A. Enquobahrie
AU - T. B. Mersha
AU - T. Z. Minas
AU - R. Alemu
AU - T. Workalemah
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/25
PB - medRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.09.25.26364043
UR - https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.25.26364043v1
AB - BackgroundCervical cancer (CC), mostly associated with high-risk human papillomaviruses (hrHPV) infection, is the most common cancer that disproportionately affects women in developing countries, including Ethiopia. Early detection of CC and initiation of treatment are key to positive health outcomes. Identifying factors associated with delayed CC diagnosis is essential for effective prevention and control efforts. This study assessed the stage at diagnosis and examined associated clinical and sociodemographic factors. MethodsAn institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 284 women newly diagnosed with CC who attended Tibebe Ghion Specialized Hospital (TGSH) between 1st January 2021 and 31st December 2022. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on the participants demographic, reproductive, and gynaecologic history, and clinical profiles. CC stage at diagnosis was categorised as early (stage I-IIA) or late (stage IIB-IV). Logistic regression models (unadjusted and adjusted) were used to examine associations of sociodemographic or clinical factors with stage at CC diagnosis. ResultsThe mean age ({+/-}standard deviation) at presentation was 53.2 {+/-} 11.3 years, with an age range of 18 - 80 years. Most of the patients (73.6%) were from rural areas, and three-fifth (58.1%) had no medical insurance. Among participants, 74.6% (95% CI: 69.4, 79.6%) had late-stage CC. The odds of late-stage CC diagnosis were higher for women from rural areas (AOR: 2.21; 95% CI:1.18, 4.12; p<0.013), and those with anaemia (defined as <12 mg/dl haemoglobin) (AOR: 3.42; 95% CI: 1.88, 6.23; p<0.001). On the other hand, the odds of late-stage CC diagnosis were lower in HIV positive women (AOR:0.41; 95%CI:0.19, 0.88; p<0.021). ConclusionThe proportion of late-stage diagnosis among CC patients was high. Residential area, anaemia status, and HIV serostatus were factors associated with stage at CC diagnosis. These findings can inform screening efforts of CC and call for expanding of the screening services to the rural setting in order to reduce the burden of late-stage CC diagnosis.
ER -