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Research Article
Factors Influencing the Awareness of Cervical Cancer Screening and Practice Among Women Attending Butaro District Hospital, Burera District, Rwanda, 2025
Niyihoza Roger Chadrack
,
Tefera Tezera Negera*,
Eric Mugabo
Issue:
Volume 1, Issue 2, December 2026
Pages:
71-82
Received:
27 May 2026
Accepted:
8 June 2026
Published:
14 October 2026
Abstract: Persisting as a substantial global health burden for women, even though Cervical cancer is largely preventable through early screening, with HPV vaccination. Globally, cervical cancer stands as fourth most frequent malignancy affecting women. This study assesses the factors influencing awareness and practices of cervical cancer screening among women attending Butaro District Hospital in Burera District. A descriptive cross-sectional with quantitative method was used, with purposive sampling targeting women aged 21-65 years attending the hospital’s family planning department. The sample size involved 250 participants. Data was collected using structured, closed-ended questionnaires, and analyzed in SPSS Version 31.0.0. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square analysis, and Logistic regression, with p value < 0.05. Only 53.6% of women demonstrated good awareness, while 46.4% had poor awareness. Screening practice was reported by 63.1% (95% CI: 56.9-69.0) Awareness significantly influenced screening compared to poor awareness (OR = 2.601, 95% CI [1.524-4.439], p < 0.001). For Socio-demographic, higher income (AOR = 3.140, 95% CI [1.333-7.393], p = 0.009) increase the screening practice compared with lower income. Secondary education and above (AOR = 3.371, 95% CI [1.495-7.603], p = 0.003) compared to primary or no formal education. Being married increased the odds of screening AOR = 4.200, 95% CI [1.375-12.830], p = 0.012). Cervical cancer screening practices among women in Rwanda remain constrained by poor awareness, low education, poverty, and single marital status. Therefore, strengthening procedure-focused health education at facility level, and expanding outreach screening services is essential to increase cervical cancer screening uptake.
Abstract: Persisting as a substantial global health burden for women, even though Cervical cancer is largely preventable through early screening, with HPV vaccination. Globally, cervical cancer stands as fourth most frequent malignancy affecting women. This study assesses the factors influencing awareness and practices of cervical cancer screening among wome...
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Research Article
Factors Associated with Access to Physical and Functional Rehabilitation Services Among Children with Disabilities in Selected District Hospitals in Rwanda, 2026
Dushime Yvonne Roxanne*
Issue:
Volume 1, Issue 2, December 2026
Pages:
83-94
Received:
17 June 2026
Accepted:
6 July 2026
Published:
26 October 2026
Abstract: Approximately 15% of the global population live with physical disabilities, with 80% from low-income countries. In Rwandan, current data show that there are an estimated 8012 children with disabilities. This study aimed to determine factors influencing accessibility of physical and functional rehabilitation services for children with disabilities at Byumba L2TH, Kibuye RH and Ruhengeri L2TH, Rwanda respectively. This cross-sectional mixed-methods study had caretakers of the children with disabilities as target population with sample size of 419. Quantitative, and qualitative data were collected through face-to-face interviews using closed ended questionnaire and KIIs, respectively. Descriptive and inferential statistics analysis, in SPSS v31, and thematic analysis in NVivo v15 software. From results, 28.4% (95% CI: 24.2-32.9) of children adhered to prescribed rehabilitation services. Different enabling factors had significant implications, children from high income families had 4.63 times odds of access than ones from low-income families (AOR = 4.626, 95% CI [2.101-10.187], p < 0.001), traveling 0-5 km distance increased the odds of access compared with high than 5 km by 4.44 times (AOR = 4.447, 95% CI [2.346-8.432], p < 0.001), compared with high transport costs, lower costs increase the access by 6.53 times (AOR = 6.527, 95% CI [3.692-11.538], p < 0.001), affordability of services had 2.67 odds of increase the access (AOR = 4.371, 95% CI [2.462-7.761], p < 0.001). The availability of rehabilitation services was universally accessible (100%), while prosthetic and occupational therapy were severely limited (33.3%). For perceived needs, caretakers emphasized financial support, provision of assistive devices, stigma reduction, improved service delivery, and awareness campaigns. This study suggests the strengthening of community-based rehabilitation, integrating services into primary health care, ensuring affordability, and addressing stigma are essential.
Abstract: Approximately 15% of the global population live with physical disabilities, with 80% from low-income countries. In Rwandan, current data show that there are an estimated 8012 children with disabilities. This study aimed to determine factors influencing accessibility of physical and functional rehabilitation services for children with disabilities a...
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Review Article
Impact of Stagnant Water on the Breeding of Malaria Mosquitoes in Nigerian Communities: A Sociological Assessment
Hussaini Ibn Mohammed*,
Aishatu Umar Dahiru,
Halima Lami Bello
Issue:
Volume 1, Issue 2, December 2026
Pages:
95-111
Received:
9 October 2026
Accepted:
21 October 2026
Published:
31 October 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.wjhsr.20260102.13
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Abstract: Nigeria accounts for the biggest burden of malaria in the world, and a significant portion of this burden gets reproduced in the stagnating water bodies which accumulate in the drains, pits, tanks, farm trenches, and flood plains around homes. Most of the research done in Nigeria on this matter is entomological or epidemiological, specific to locations and says nothing about why such water bodies exist and continue existing. This paper examines the stagnating water as a socially constructed phenomenon. In order to do so, the article uses structured narrative literature review following PRISMA standards in order to summarize 27 Nigeria-specific articles which were published between 2004 and 2026 (14 empirical papers, 4 analytical reviews and 9 policy or institutional papers) using the framework of Social Determinants of Health and Political Ecology. The synthesis shows that the most productive breeding habitats are human-made: blocked drains, construction pits, open water-storage containers, waste-filled borrow pits, tyre tracks and the residues of cassava processing. Their persistence has to do with poverty, a water supply system in the public sector that forces the people into storing water (only 6.9% of the households in Nigeria get water piped into their house or yard), settlement without any plan, poor drainage systems and waste disposal, and a vector control budget where the proportion of planned spending on larval source management was 0.6% for the period 2021-2025. While community awareness is high, persistent knowledge-action gap, perpetuated by normalization of mosquitoes and also the collective nature of drainage, hinders action within the households. The knowledge base of research work also varies widely: South West region, the zone with the lowest prevalence of malaria, has the highest number of research works while the North Central region has none. Widespread pyrethroid resistance in Nigerian Anopheles populations strengthens the case for removing habitats rather than relying on insecticides alone. The article suggests a socio-ecological approach and suggests larval habitat reduction as a municipal service, water supply as vector control, and ward health committees as a community action institution.
Abstract: Nigeria accounts for the biggest burden of malaria in the world, and a significant portion of this burden gets reproduced in the stagnating water bodies which accumulate in the drains, pits, tanks, farm trenches, and flood plains around homes. Most of the research done in Nigeria on this matter is entomological or epidemiological, specific to locat...
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