Body mass index and cervical cancer screening among women aged 15–69 years in Eswatini: evidence from a population-based survey

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer stands as one of the most prevalent cancer types among women, despite its preventable nature through early screening and vaccination strategies.

The link between being overweight or obese and various adverse health outcomes, including an elevated cancer risk, is well established.

Within this study, our central objective was to explore the correlation between body mass index (BMI) and cervical cancer screening (CCS) rates.

Moreover, we sought to investigate whether socioeconomic status potentially modulates this relationship.

METHODS: Our analysis encompassed 1791 respondents who participated in the World Health Organization’s STEPwise approach to noncommunicable disease risk factor surveillance carried out in Eswatini in 2014.

We assessed the connection between BMI, along with other determinants, and CCS through both unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models.

RESULTS: The uptake of CCS was 14.4% and the prevalence of overweight and obesity was estimated at 28.1 and 34.9% respectively.

After accounting for other pertinent variables, the likelihood of obtaining CCS was amplified for individuals classified as obese (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.26–3.12) or overweight (aOR = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.05–3.74).

Furthermore, factors such as being separated or divorced (aOR = 2.03, 95% CI = 1.11–3.72) and engaging in regular physical exercise (aOR = 3.02, 95% CI = 1.21–6.02) were associated with increased odds of undergoing CCS.

CONCLUSIONS: This study underscores the noteworthy role played by both overweight and obesity, in conjunction with various socioeconomic factors, in shaping CCS patterns among the surveyed women.

For Eswatini, targeted interventions aimed at enhancing CCS participation should take into account the multifaceted factors highlighted within this investigation.