ISSN 2736-1578
African Journal of Gender and Women Studies | Vol. 11, No. 11, November 2026 | pp. 225–238
DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/001361
Article Type: Research Article
Title: Reproductive Health, Cervical Cancer Screening, and Gendered Healthcare Access in Rural Communities
Names of Author: Bosede Adeyemi¹, Rajeshwari Nair², & Hannah McKenzie³
Author's Affiliation: ¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; ²Department of Community Health, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India; ³School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Abstract:
Cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of preventable cancer mortality among women in low- and middle-income countries, reflecting stark global inequities in human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and early screening coverage. Beyond shortages of rural diagnostic clinics and trained nurses, patriarchal household decision-making, fear of spousal abandonment following positive diagnoses, and stigma surrounding pelvic examinations deter rural women from accessing preventive care. This paper investigates the socio-cultural and structural barriers to cervical cancer screening in rural southwestern Nigeria and Tamil Nadu, India. Grounded in reproductive justice and feminist health equity frameworks, the research combines clinic utilization data with 65 interviews involving rural women and community health workers. We demonstrate that HPV self-sampling kits delivered through trusted female community health networks substantially increase screening uptake.
Keywords: Cervical cancer screening, reproductive health, healthcare access, feminist health equity, rural women, HPV self-sampling, Nigeria, India
Manuscript Timeline: Received: October 05, 2026; Revised: November 03, 2026; Accepted: November 07, 2026; Published: November 16, 2026.
Citation: Adeyemi, B., Nair, R., & McKenzie, H. (2026). Reproductive Health, Cervical Cancer Screening, and Gendered Healthcare Access in Rural Communities. African Journal of Gender and Women Studies, 11(11), 225–238. DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/001361