EARLY MARRIAGE AND CERVICAL CANCER RISK IN WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE

Background: Early marriage is still prevalent in Indonesia and poses health risks such as cervical cancer. Marriage at the age of <20 years makes the reproductive organs more vulnerable to HPV infection. At Bhayangkara Hospital Kediri, many cases of cervical cancer occur in women of reproductive age. Objective: To analyze the relationship between a history of early marriage and the incidence of cervical cancer among women of reproductive age at Bhayangkara Hospital Kediri. Methods: This study is a quantitative research with an observational analytic design using a case-control approach. The case population consisted of all cervical cancer patients treated at Bhayangkara Hospital Kediri during March–May 2025. The control population consisted of women of reproductive age in Bandar Lor, Kediri City, who were not diagnosed with cervical cancer. The research sample consisted of 22 respondents, including 11 respondents in the case group and 11 respondents in the control group, selected using total sampling for the case group and purposive sampling for the control group. Data were collected through interviews, medical records, and subjective data, and analyzed using the chi-square test. Results: The chi-square test showed a p-value of 0.000 < 0.05. The odds ratio was 0.154 with a 95% confidence interval. Since this value is <1, it indicates that the group without early marriage had a lower risk of developing cervical cancer compared to the group with early marriage. Women who married at an early age had a 0.154 times higher risk of being diagnosed with cervical cancer. Conclusion and Suggestions: There is a significant relationship between a history of early marriage and the incidence of cervical cancer in women of reproductive age. Education, active roles of healthcare workers, and expanded early detection are required.