Abstract

Background: Cervical cancer is the most common female cancer in the developing countries. Worldwide, about half a million women acquire the disease annually and about two-third are from the developing countries. The high rate of prevalence with its associated morbidity and mortality in our environment has made cervical cancer a public health problem. Fortunately, it is a preventable cancer and screening can lead to detection of premalignant lesion and early stage of the disease thus preventing its occurrence and reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with the condition. This study was undertaken to assess the knowledge and acceptance of cervical cancer screening among women attending antenatal clinic at the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi, North Central Nigeria.

Methods: This study was a cross-sectional survey of 345 among women attending antenatal clinic at the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi, North Central Nigeria. The Knowledge and willingness to accept cervical screening by these women were assessed using a self- administered structured questionnaire.7

Results:Three hundred and forty five (345) women answered the questionnaire and majority of respondents were between the ages of 25-29. Majority, 87(25.2%) were housewives. 176(51.0%) had secondary education while 105(30.4%) had tertiary education. This study revealed that majority of the respondents has a substantial awareness and knowledge of Cervical Cancer screening (68.4%). While 47.5% were ready to undergo Cervical Cancer screening and 66.1% will tell their family members to go for screening.

Conclusion: As the knowledge and acceptability of cervical cancer screening was high, more facilities could be made available, accessible, and affordable. Also, health education to improve awareness of cervical cancer screening among antenatal women can improve awareness and uptake of the screening procedure.

Keywords

  • hypertension
  • premature birth
  • meta-analysis

References

  1. 1. Ferley J, Shin HR, Bray F, Forman D, Mathers C, Parkin DM. Estimates of worldwide burden of cancer in 2008. GLOBOCAN 2008. Int j. Cancer. 2010, 127(12); 2893-2917
  2. 2. Anorlu RI. Cervical cancer of the sub-Saharan Africa perspective. Reproductive health matters 2008, 16(32); 41-49
  3. 3. Kyrgiou M. Premalignant and Malignant Disease of the Cervix. In: Edmond DK, Christopher L, Tom B, editors. Dewhurst’s Textbook of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. John Willey & Sons Ltd. 9th Edition. 2018; p 858-875
  4. 4. Parkin DM, Bray F (2006) Chapter 2: The burden of HPV-related cancers. Vaccin24: S11–S25. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2006.05.111
  5. 5. Walboomers JM, Jacobs MV, Manos MM, Bosch FX, Kummer JA, Shah KV et al., “Human papillomavirus is a necessary cause of invasive cervical cancer worldwide,” Journal of Pathology, vol. 189, no.1, pp. 12–19, 1999.
  6. 6. HPV Info, “What is HPV?” The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, Ottawa, Canada, 2009, Available from http://hpvinfo.ca/ hpvinfo/professionals/overview-2.aspx.
  7. 7. Fanta BE. The distribution of Human papilloma virus infection in women with cervical histological abnormalities from an area with high incidence of cervical cancer. Ethiop Med J. 2005 Jul: 43 (3):151-8
  8. 8. Konney TO, Srofenyoh EK, Kwawukume EE. Premalignant Lesions of the Female Genital Tract. In: E.Y Kwawukume, B.A Ekele, K.A Danso, and E.E Emuveyan (Editors) Comprehensive Gynaecology in the Tropics. G-PAK Ltd. 2nd Edition. 2017; p. 543-559
  9. 9. Holschneider CH. Premalignant and Malignant Disorders of the Uterine Cervix. In: Current Disease and Treatment; Obstetrics & Gynaecologic. Decherney AH, Nathan L, Neri Laufer, Ashley Roman (Editors). McGraw Hill. 11th Edition. 2013; p 1619-1657
  10. 10. Anyebe EE, Opaluwa SA, Muktar HM, Philip F. Knowledge and practice of cervical cancer screening amongst nurses in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria. Res Humanit Soc Sci. 2015; 4:2225–0484.
  11. 11. Landy R, Pesola F, Castañón A, Sasieni P. Impact of cervical screening on cervical cancer mortality: estimation using stage-specific results from a nested case-control study. Br J Cancer. 2016;115(9):1140–1146. doi: 10.1038/bjc.2016.290.
  12. 12. Motavalli R, Mousazadeh T, Mousazadeh A, Asadi AF. Study the rate and causes of the screening test of the cervix cancer among women in Ardabil City. Asian Pac J Environ Cancer. 2018;1(1):1517.doi:10.31557/apjec.2018.1.1.15-17.
  13. 13. Daniyan BC, Ekwedigwe KC, Yakubu E, Mbamara SU, Amamilo IC, Sunday-Adeoye I. Assessment of knowledge, attitudes and practice of cervical cancer screening among female health workers in a tertiary health facility in South-East Nigeria. J Integr Oncol. 2019; 8:228.
  14. 14. Alwahaibi N, Alsalami W, Alramadhani N, Alzaabi A. Factors influencing knowledge and practice regarding cervical cancer and pap smear testing among Omani Women. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2018;19(12):3367–3374. doi: 10.31557/APJCP.2018.19.12.3367.
  15. 15. Okolie EA, Aluga D, Anjorin S, Ike FN, Ani EM Nwadike BI. Addressing missed opportunities for cervical cancer screening in Nigeria: a nursing workforce approach. Ecancermedicalscience. 2022; 16:1373. doi: 10.3332/ecancer.2022.1373.
  16. 16. Biodun OA, Fatungase OK, Olu-Abiodun OO, Idowu-Ajiboye BA, Awosile JO. An assessment of women's awareness and knowledge about cervical cancer and screening and the barriers to cervical screening in Ogun State, Nigeria. IOSR J Dent Med Sci. 2013; 10:52–58. doi: 10.9790/0853- 1035258.
  17. 17. Rachana KC, Giri R. Knowledge regarding cervical cancer among undergraduate female students at a selected college of Lalitpur, Nepal. Can Oncol Nurs J. 2019;29(3):184–188.
  18. 18. 4. Neji OI, David NA, John EE. Knowledge, attitude, and practice of cervical cancer screening among female Students in tertiary institution in Calabar, Nigeria. Int J Dev Res. 2019;9(1):25384–25390
  19. 19. Ezechi OC, Gab-Okafor CV, Ostergren PO, Petterson KO. Willingness and acceptability of cervical cancer screening among HIV positive Nigerian women. BMC Public Health. 2013; 13:46. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-13-46.
  20. 20. Omorogbe CE, Ehizemwogie EJ. Awareness and uptake of cervical cancer screening among female students in school of basic medical sciences, University of Benin, Nigeria. Am J Nurs Sci. 2019;8(4):163–168
  21. 21. Tapera R, Manyala E, Erick P,Maswabi TM, Tumoyagae T, Letsholo B et al. Knowledge and attitudes towards cervical cancer screening amongst University of Botswana Female Students. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2017;18(9):2445–2450.
  22. 22. Zhang M, Sit JWH, Chan DNS, Akingbade O, Chan CWH. Educational interventions to promote cervical cancer screening among rural populations: a systematic review. Int J Environ Res Public Health.2022;19(11):6874.doi:10.3390/ijerph19116874.