Married Men's Barriers to Supporting Wives' Cervical Cancer Screening in the Rural Dire Dawa Administration, Ethiopia: A Qualitative Study

Background: A man's non-supporting wife is one of the barriers to cervical cancer screening. However, research about men’s barriers to supporting screening is limited to the study region, particularly in rural areas. Therefore, this study aimed to explore barriers for married men to support wives' cervical cancer screening, which can help in prevention interventions. Methods: A qualitative study between August and September 2023 was conducted in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia. In-depth interviews were conducted individually in quiet places, using a semi-structured tool aided by a voice recorder and field notes. The interviews were transcribed verbatim, and thematic analysis was used to identify themes. The report was reviewed using the COREQ (Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Studies) check list. Results: Four main themes were identified. Barriers related to awareness, perception, traditional healers and religious leaders influence, and a lack of men’s involvement in community women’s reproductive education. Conclusion: Barriers for married men to support wives for cervical cancer screening are systemic and are related to self, community, and government interventions. Therefore, it is crucial to develop programs that are systemic healthcare facilities, family- and society-oriented, culturally sensitive, and inclusive in order to address these factors. Furthermore, conducting additional multi-perspective research, which includes both spouses, family, community, health professionals, and health service leaders’ perspectives, is essential to effectively tackling these factors.