AWARENESS OF CERVICAL CANCER AND CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING AMONG WOMEN VISITING FEDERAL TEACHING HOSPITAL ABAKALIKI, NIGERIA

Chinaka Chidinma Christiana and Udeajah Victoria Ndidiamaka

¹Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki Ebonyi State

²Department of Medical Laboratory Ebonyi State Uniersity

E-mail: Vakadujah45@yahoo.com; dinmaceecee@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Background: Cervical cancer is the most common genital tract malignancy among women in developing countries and accounts for about two hundred and fifty thousand deaths yearly most of which occur in the developing countries.  A significant drop in its incidence has been recorded in the developed countries as a result of intensive program of cervical screening.
Objective: To assess the awareness of cervical cancer among Igbo women in Abakaliki, Southeastern Nigerian and determine their uptake of cervical screening services.
Materials and Methods: A questionnaire-based descriptive cross-sectional study. Structured questionnaires were administered to female attendees of the antenatal and gynecological clinics of Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, Southeast Nigeria over a two-month period (5^th October to 5^th December 2012). Data analysis was by SPSS.  Results: Five hundred questionnaires were given out. Four hundred and fifty were correctly filled (9O %) and analyzed. The mean age of respondents was 36.2 years. 82% of respondents were married. 17.1%% had tertiary education and 44.0% were self employed. All respondents were sexually active and the mean age at first sex was 22+ 4.0SD (14-34). About 73.4% of respondents had their sexual debut before 20years and 60% had multiple sexual partners. 0ver 60% had experienced vaginal discharge. 25.6 % of the respondents were aware of cervical screening and only 11.1 % had ever done the test. It also found that most of those who were aware of screening got their information from hospital sources (52.2%), books/posters (20%) and radio/TV (20%). The major reasons for not doing the test cited by those who were aware of it were ‘no need for it’, lack of knowledge that it could be done locally, and fear and anxiety over a positive result. The most important reasons given for undergoing the tests were the fact that it was part of a general screening programme (39.3%) and doctors request (26.7%). Overall, 62.5% of all the respondents indicated willingness to be screened. Conclusion: The level of awareness of cervical screening is low.
The exposure to conditions that predispose women to cervical cancer was high, and the levels of awareness of cervical cancer and cervical screening uptake were low and these can lead to no significant reduction in the incidence of cervical cancer. A national cervical smear screening policy is advocated, greater public education and the greater use of opportunistic screening by physicians should be vigorously pushed. Continued awareness creation, local provision of cheap and affordable services and poverty alleviation are needed to improve cervical screening uptake with the hope of reducing the incidence of cervical cancer in the long term.