Pregnant women’s beliefs and perceptions of cervical cancer screening: A descriptive phenomenological study

Cervical cancer is more prevalent in low- and middle-income countries, with Sub-Saharan Africa having the highest rates. Screening, including HPV testing, is vital for early detection, but low- and middle-income countries face challenges in expanding HPV vaccination and screening. Research on cervical cancer screening among pregnant women in Ghana is limited, and this study aims to explore their beliefs and perceptions to improve screening practices and health promotion. A descriptive phenomenological approach was utilized in recruiting twelve (12) purposively sampled pregnant women at the antenatal units of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and the Kaneshie Polyclinic. Participants were engaged in face-to-face semi-structured interviews which were audiotaped after seeking informed consent from participants. The audiotaped interviews were transcribed verbatim and inductively analysed into themes. Five themes emerged from the study: “General knowledge and awareness level” focused on participants’ understanding of cervical cancer and screening. “At-risk population for cervical cancer” explored perceptions of vulnerable groups. “Views on cervical cancer screening” examined participants’ beliefs about cervical cancer screening. “Lack of experience and knowledge gap” revealed no participant had undergone screening. “Public awareness advocacy and protection” highlighted participants’ reports on the importance of self-care and public awareness. Participants showed some knowledge of cervical cancer and its screening, recognized the importance of education, yet a gap between knowledge and action exists, necessitating targeted interventions.