Table 3.
Bivariate analysis of predictors of early stage versus late stage of cervical cancer
| Characteristic 1 | Early Stage | Late Stage | p value | |
| Age, years | 26–35 | 2 (11.8%) | 14 (4.2%) | p = 0.028* |
| 36–45 | 4 (23.5%) | 32 (9.6%) | ||
| 46–55 | 1 (5.88%) | 92 (27.5%) | ||
| 56–65 | 6 (35.3%) | 66 (19.8%) | ||
| ≥66 | 4 (23.6%) | 130 (38.9%) | ||
| Marital status | Married | 7 (41.2%) | 150 (44.9%) | p = 0.763 |
| Not married | 10 (58.8%) | 184 (55.1%) | ||
| Employment status | Employed | 8 (47.1%) | 220 (65.9%) | p = 0.113 |
| Unemployed | 9 (52.9%) | 114 (34.1%) | ||
| Education level | No formal education | 2 (16.7%) | 122 (42.2%) | p = 0.62 |
| Primary | 4 (33.3%) | 66 (22.8%) | ||
| Junior high school | 1 (8.3%) | 57 (19.7%) | ||
| Secondary high school | 3 (25.0%) | 32 (11.1%) | ||
| Tertiary | 2 (12.7%) | 12 (4.2%) | ||
| Monthly income (Ghana cedis) | <500 | 15 (88.2%) | 324 (97.0%) | p < 0.001* |
| 500–749 | 0 (0.0%) | 2 (0.6%) | ||
| 750–999 | 0 (0.0%) | 3 (0.9%) | ||
| 1000–1249 | 0 (0.0%) | 4 (1.2%) | ||
| ≥1250 | 2 (11.9%) | 1 (0.3%) | ||
| Location of residence | Urban | 14 (82.4%) | 158 (47.3%) | p = 0.005* |
| Rural | 3 (17.7%) | 176 (52.7%) | p = 0.622 | |
| Distance to nearest health facility (km) | < 3 | 6 (35.3%) | 138 (64.7%) | |
| 3 or greater | 11 (64.7%) | 196 (58.7%) | ||
| Parity 2 | 4.6 | 4.8 | p = 0.852 | |
|
Symptom that prompted presentation to care |
Intermenstrual bleeding | 4 (23.5%) | 20 (6.0%) | p = 0.014* |
| Postmenopausal bleeding | 9 (52.9%) | 142 (42.5%) | ||
| Post-coital bleeding | 0 (0.0%) | 3 (0.9%) | ||
| Pelvic pain | 2 (11.8%) | 23 (6.9%) | ||
| Vaginal discharge | 0 (0.0%) | 115 (32.8%) | ||
| Pap smear history | Never done / unsure | 17 (100.0%) | 331 (99.1%) | p = 0.926 |
| Done >3 years ago | 0 (0.0%) | 2 (0.6%) | ||
| Done within last 3 years | 0 (0.0%) | 1 (0.3%) | ||
|
Gynecologic exam done within last 3 years |
Not done | 13 (46.5%) | 304 (91.3%) | p = 0.048* |
| Done | 4 (23.5%) | 30 (8.9%) | ||
| Person first informed of symptoms | Husband | 6 (35.3%) | 104 (31.1%) | p = 0.595 |
| Relative | 7 (41.2%) | 96 (29.7%) | ||
| Religious leader | 0 (0.0%) | 29 (8.7%) | ||
| Traditional healer | 0 (0.0%) | 11 (3.3%) | ||
| Healthcare worker | 4 (23.5%) | 80 (234.0%) | ||
| Time from symptoms to seeing a doctor | <2 weeks | 5 (29.4%) | 52 (16.3%) | p = 0.418 |
| 2 to 4 weeks | 4 (23.5%) | 86 (25.8%) | ||
| >4 weeks to 3 months | 1 (5.9%) | 77 (23.1%) | ||
| >3 months to 6 months | 3(17.7%) | 68 (20.4%) | ||
| >6 months to 12 months | 2 (11.8%) | 22 (6.6%) | ||
| > 12 months | 2 (11.8%) | 28 (8.4%) | ||
| Health facility first presented to | Health center | 2 (11.8%) | 54 (16.2%) | p <0.001* |
| District hospital | 3 (17.7%) | 237 (71.0%) | ||
| Regional hospital | 1 (5.9%) | 11 (3.3%) | ||
| Tertiary hospital | 3 (17.7%) | 7 (2.1%) | ||
| Private hospital | 8 (47.1%) | 25 (7.5%) |
1
Comparison made with Chi-squared or Fisher's Exact unless otherwise indicated
2
Comparison made with t-test
*
significant at p <0.05