Factors related to the Decision to Undergo Cervical Cancer Screening using the HPV DNA Test among Women Aged 30-60 Years in the Service Area of Than Thong Sub-District Health Promoting Hospital, Phan District, Chiang Rai Province

Abstract

Cervical cancer is a cancer commonly found in women. Effective screening helps detect patients early and increase survival rates. However, participation in cervical cancer screening in Thailand remains low. The rate in the service area of Than Thong sub-district health promoting hospital, Phan district, Chiang Rai province, in 2023, was only 11.1 percent. This study aimed to investigate factors associated with the decision to undergo cervical cancer screening by the HPV DNA (human papillomavirus deoxyribonucleic acid) test using an analytical cross-sectional study method among 148 women aged 30-60 years, divided into 70 women who ever screened and 78 women who never screened. The factors studied included personal factors, perceived risk and severity of cervical cancer, perceived benefits and barriers of participating in screening, and enabling and reinforcing factors for participating in screening. A questionnaire that passed validity and reliability tests was used to collect patient data. The associated factors were analyzed by multiple logistic regressions. The results found no personal factors associated with the decision to undergo cervical cancer screening. Nor the perceived risk and perceived severity of cervical cancer associated with the decision to undergo screening (adjusted odds ratios of 0.92 and 0.85, and p-values of 0.81 and 0.64, respectively). The perceived benefits and barriers to participating in screening, as well as the enabling and reinforcing factors for participating in screening, were not associated with the decision to undergo cervical cancer screening (adjusted ORs 0.74 and 0.73, and p-values of 0.37 and 0.57, respectively). The prevalence of screening participation from 11.1 percent in 2023 to 19.6 percent in 2024 was very low. Further study should focus on the factors influencing the decision to undergo HPV DNA cervical cancer screening in other areas with different contexts, including personal factors such as education and socioeconomic status, as well as perceived factors, enabling factors, and reinforcing factors, to identify and confirm the reasons.