Knowledge, perceptions, and barriers to cervical cancer and screening among women in a selected district of Ghana: a qualitative study

Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting women in Ghana. Despite the availability of screening services, many women do not undergo regular checks, often due to limited knowledge, misconceptions, or social and cultural barriers. Understanding women’s awareness, perceptions, and challenges is essential to improving early detection and preventive care. The study was therefore aimed at exploring women’s knowledge, perceptions, and barriers related to Cervical cancer and its screening in a selected community in Ghana. A qualitative thematic analysis approach was used in this research. The participants were purposively sampled until data saturation was reached, consisting of 15 women at Agogo Presbyterian Hospital in Ghana. In-depth interviews (IDIs) were used to obtain data, later analysed using NVivo 20 software. Data were collected between September and October 2025. The findings revealed that most women had limited knowledge of cervical cancer and were unaware of screening procedures, with only a few educated participants demonstrating adequate understanding. Social norms, myths, and misconceptions strongly influenced perceptions; cervical cancer was often considered a spiritual disease, taboo, or linked to infertility, generating fear, shyness, and embarrassment that discouraged screening. Multiple barriers to uptake were identified, including fear of pain or diagnosis, busy schedules, socio-cultural and religious restrictions, and limited access to screening centres. Health workers, media, and peers were primary sources of information. This study emphasizes the need for specific education, culturally sensitive programs, and more services that are accessible and that will increase the awareness and practice of cervical cancer screenings (CCS) among Ghanaian women.