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ONCOLOGY, NUCLEAR MEDICINE AND TRANSPLANTOLOGY
Review Article
Nov 24, 2025 4 2

Prevalence and Predictors of Cervical Cancer Screening Uptake in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Vivian Ukamaka Nwokedi 1 * ,
Godwin Kenechukwu Nwajiugo 2,
Oluchi Chioma Okechukwu 3,
Rebecca Ibidun Biose 4,
Olugbemi Oluseyi Motilewa 5,
Wonderful Oluwatoyin Anosike 6,
Oluwafunmilayo E.O. Adetona 7
1 Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria2 Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, National Hospital Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria3 Laboratory Department, University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, VT, USA4 Nursing Department, Aids Healthcare Foundation, Benue, Nigeria 5 Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria6 Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK7 Medical Laboratory Science Department, Faculty of Basic Science, Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo State, Nigeria* Corresponding Author
Oncology, Nuclear Medicine and Transplantology, 1(2), 2025, onmt009, https://doi.org/10.63946/onmt/17451
Publication date: Nov 24, 2025
Full Text (PDF)

ABSTRACT

Cervical cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa, where it disproportionately affects women due to late-stage diagnoses. Despite the availability of preventive measures such as screening and HPV vaccination, uptake remains critically low. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence and identify key predictors of cervical cancer screening uptake across Sub-Saharan Africa. A comprehensive search of databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, African Journal Online (AJOL) and ScienceDirect identified 27 studies involving a total of 357,586 women. Our results revealed that the overall prevalence of cervical cancer screening uptake was 21.2% (95% CI: 16.2%, 27.2%). Key predictors of uptake included education, healthcare access, awareness of cervical cancer, age, and integration with other health services like HIV care. This study underscores the urgent need for tailored interventions to address barriers such as lack of awareness, financial constraints, and cultural stigma. The findings provide crucial evidence to guide policy and public health strategies aimed at increasing screening rates and reducing the cervical cancer burden in the region.

KEYWORDS

Cervical Cancer Cervical Cancer Screening Sub-Saharan Africa Screening Uptake Public Health Women’s Health HPV Prevention Healthcare Access

CITATION (Vancouver)

Nwokedi VU, Nwajiugo GK, Okechukwu OC, Biose RI, Motilewa OO, Anosike WO, et al. Prevalence and Predictors of Cervical Cancer Screening Uptake in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Oncology, Nuclear Medicine and Transplantology. 2025;1(2):onmt009. https://doi.org/10.63946/onmt/17451
APA
Nwokedi, V. U., Nwajiugo, G. K., Okechukwu, O. C., Biose, R. I., Motilewa, O. O., Anosike, W. O., & Adetona, O. E. (2025). Prevalence and Predictors of Cervical Cancer Screening Uptake in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Oncology, Nuclear Medicine and Transplantology, 1(2), onmt009. https://doi.org/10.63946/onmt/17451
Harvard
Nwokedi, V. U., Nwajiugo, G. K., Okechukwu, O. C., Biose, R. I., Motilewa, O. O., Anosike, W. O., and Adetona, O. E. (2025). Prevalence and Predictors of Cervical Cancer Screening Uptake in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Oncology, Nuclear Medicine and Transplantology, 1(2), onmt009. https://doi.org/10.63946/onmt/17451
AMA
Nwokedi VU, Nwajiugo GK, Okechukwu OC, et al. Prevalence and Predictors of Cervical Cancer Screening Uptake in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Oncology, Nuclear Medicine and Transplantology. 2025;1(2), onmt009. https://doi.org/10.63946/onmt/17451
Chicago
Nwokedi, Vivian Ukamaka, Godwin Kenechukwu Nwajiugo, Oluchi Chioma Okechukwu, Rebecca Ibidun Biose, Olugbemi Oluseyi Motilewa, Wonderful Oluwatoyin Anosike, and Oluwafunmilayo E.O. Adetona. "Prevalence and Predictors of Cervical Cancer Screening Uptake in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis". Oncology, Nuclear Medicine and Transplantology 2025 1 no. 2 (2025): onmt009. https://doi.org/10.63946/onmt/17451
MLA
Nwokedi, Vivian Ukamaka et al. "Prevalence and Predictors of Cervical Cancer Screening Uptake in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis". Oncology, Nuclear Medicine and Transplantology, vol. 1, no. 2, 2025, onmt009. https://doi.org/10.63946/onmt/17451

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