Original Research Article
Year: 2017 | Month: January | Volume: 7 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 179-187
Prevalence of Late Stage Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer and Comorbidities in Women Aged 65 Years and Above In Harare, Zimbabwe
Kagura Yvonne1, Zvinavashe Mathilda1, Mukona Doreen1, Gladys Saburi2
1University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing Science, Box A178, Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe
2Department of Nursing Science, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
Corresponding Author: Mukona Doreen
ABSTRACT
The elderly are currently the fastest growing population worldwide. Illnesses arising with advancing age, like hypertension and diabetes mellitus are complicating cervical cancer diagnosis in elderly women. The study utilised a descriptive, correlational design to examine the relationship between prevalence of late stage diagnosis of cervical cancer and number of comorbidities in women aged 65 years and above in Zimbabwe. Betty Neuman’s Systems Model was the guiding framework for the study. Convenience sampling was used to recruit and interview 68 participants from Parirenyatwa Hospital and Spilhause Clinic at Harare Hospital. Permission to carry out the study was granted by the respective review boards. All participants gave informed consent. Data was collected through face to face interviews following a structured questionnaire. Data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16. Fifty-four (79.4%) participants had comorbidities. The average number of comorbidities suffered by elderly women before late stage cervical cancer diagnosis was 2.03 with a mean comorbidity score of 9.03 out of 38 using a modified Charleson Comorbidity Index. Majority participants (58.1%) presented late with cervical cancer at stages 111 and 1V respectively. Prevalence of late stage diagnosis was 0.661. There was a positive relationship between prevalence of late stage diagnosis of cervical cancer and number of comorbidities (r = .431, p < 0.01). Regression analysis (R2) was 0.186 (b=.289) implying that late stage diagnosis explains 18.6% of the variance observed in comorbidities. Screening for cervical cancer in elderly women is important to promote early detection and treatment.
Key words: cervical cancer, late stage diagnosis, comorbidities, elderly, prevalence, screening.