I have identified this recent paper which demonstrates the wide variety of women's perceptions in Uganda.
CITATION: Bulamba RM, et al. "Even with one Man, but with many women, you can get cervical cancer": Qualitative exploration of women's perceptions and experiences of cervical cancer screening in Uganda: A community-based study. PLOS Glob Public Health. 2026 Sep 18;6(9):e0007256. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0007256. PMID: 42758761; PMCID: PMC13588353.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13588353
ABSTRACT
Despite the availability of screening services in Uganda, uptake remains unacceptably low... we explored perceptions, attitudes, knowledge, and barriers to cervical cancer screening among women aged 25–65 years in the urban and rural areas of Wakiso District, Uganda... Participants in the focus group discussions linked cervical cancer to risky sexual behaviors, particularly involving multiple sexual partners or sexual intercourse with uncircumcised men, while some key informants said that some women believed that the disease was due to witchcraft. Concerns were also raised about family planning methods such as Intrauterine Devices (IUDs) and pills, which some participants believed to cause cervical cancer... Myths and misconceptions about cervical cancer screening, such as fears of removal of the cervix during screening, were prevalent...
Here are some quotes from women in the study:
“Some women get scared to go for cervical cancer screening especially when they get reports from other people that have been screened. There is a case of a woman who went for the screening but after the test she became even worse until she died. So when someone hears such they decide not to go for the test so people have different perceptions but they are mainly based on what they hear from those that go for the test. Others wait when they get so ill”[FGD Participant, aged 46-65 years]
"A woman who is about 50 years cannot allow a young doctor examine them because they consider them their children"
"I find that women do not want to get screened for cervical cancer because their cultures do not allow them to insert things in their underneath. Some women say they better go to traditional healers who just give them medicines without opening their legs widely, and they have the right medicines for their problems, and they get cured quickly"
"Some men refuse to allow their wives to go for cervical cancer screening, especially those who never went to school. They think that if she’s found with the cancer, it means he’s cheating"
“If I’m not feeling sick, why should I be screened?”
“Some women think the government wants to kill them like that. They say things that are weird… they think it’s something bad disguised as good”
“Doctor, what influenced me the most to go for cervical cancer screening was after I saw someone who died of it [cervical cancer]. That is when I decided to also go for the screening and see where I stand”
Best wishes, Neil
HIFA profile: Neil Pakenham-Walsh is coordinator of HIFA (Healthcare Information For All), a global health community that brings all stakeholders together around the shared goal of universal access to reliable healthcare information. HIFA has 20,000 members in 180 countries, interacting in four languages and representing all parts of the global evidence ecosystem. HIFA is administered by Global Healthcare Information Network, a UK-based nonprofit in official relations with the World Health Organization. Email: neil@hifa.org