IARC 60th Anniversary - 19-21 May 2026
Session : 20/05/26 - Posters
Application of the Integrated Behavioral Model to Understand the level of knowledge, attitudes, perceived norms, and personal agency towards Cervical
MACHANGE R. 1,3,4, KIDAYI P. 1, NJAU B. 2,4, YUMA S. 5, MTUYA C. 1, KIMARO H. 1,3, GWANIKA Y. 3,4, MCHOME B. 2,3,4, KANTELHARDT E. 6,7, KABA M. 8, MANONGI R. 2,4, MMBAGA B. 2,3,4,7, MUSHI D. 2, BJÖRLING G. 1,9,10
1 School of Nursing, KCMC University, P. O Box 2240, Moshi, Tanzania; 2 School of Public Health, KCMC University, P.O. Box 2240, , Moshi, Tanzania; 3 Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, P.O. Box 3010, Moshi, Tanzania; 4 Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute, P.O. Box 2236, Moshi, Tanzania; 5 Division of Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health, Ministry of Health, , Dodoma, Tanzania; 6 Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Department of Gynecology, , Halle-Wittenberg, Germany; 7 Global & Planetary Health Working Group, Martin-Luther-University , Halle-Wittenberg, Germany; 8 School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, , Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 9 Karolinska Institutet, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Stockholm, Sweden; 10 Jönköping University, School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping, Sweden
Application of the Integrated Behavioral Model to Understand the level of knowledge, attitudes, perceived norms, and personal agency towards Cervical Cancer Screening Among Religious and Local Political Leaders in Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania: A Quantitative Study
Background: Cervical cancer is preventable and treatable if detected early. However, cervical cancer screening coverage among Tanzanian women aged 30 to 50 remains low at 15%. Engagement of religious and local political leaders, as trusted authorities within the community, play a pivotal role in influencing attitudes, dispelling misconceptions, and promoting cervical cancer prevention.
Objective: This study applied the Integrated Behavioral Model (IBM) to understand the level of knowledge, attitudes, perceived norms, and personal agency towards cervical cancer screening among religious and local political leaders in the Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania.
Methods: A Cross-sectional study utilizing consecutive sampling used. Data collected between November 2023 and February 2024 in the Rombo and Moshi Rural districts.
Results: A total of 304 participants (99.7% response rate), with a mean age of 46.8 years (SD = 12.8), were recruited. Most participants were male (255, 83.9%); married (233, 76.6%); religious leaders (247, 81.3%) and (120, 39.5%) had a university-level education. Findings revealed that 149 (49%) had low knowledge of cervical cancer, and 292 (96.1%) had low knowledge of cervical cancer screening . Attitudes were negative with experiential attitudes having a greater influence median (IQR) score 15+1 than instrumental attitudes median (IQR) score 22+7. Perceived injunctive norms were low 13+11, indicating limited perceived social support for screening. Conversely, participants exhibited high levels of self-efficacy median (IQR) score (13+4) felt capable of supporting cervical cancer screening efforts; and in perceived behavioral control, median (IQR) score (13+4) reported confidence in their ability to encourage others to undergo cervical cancer screening.
Conclusion: Although religious and local political leaders had low knowledge, negative attitudes and low perceived norms toward Cervical cancer screening indicating limited social support, they exhibited high self-efficacy and perceived behavioral control. These findings highlight the need for culturally sensitive, targeted interventions that can lead to both immediate and sustained improvements in knowledge, attitude, as well as correct perceived norms.