Knowledge, perceptions and attitude of women about cervical cancer and its screening in Iyin Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria 10.55131/jphd/2023/210116
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
In Nigeria, cervical cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among women. This study was conducted to determine women’s knowledge, perceptions and attitude to cervical cancer and its screening services in Iyin-Ekiti, South-Western Nigeria. A community-based, cross-sectional study was used. An interviewer-administered, semi-structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from 397 women of reproductive age who were recruited using the multistage sampling technique. SPSS version 20 was used for statistical analysis at univariate and bivariate levels. The level of statistical significance was set at p-value ≤ 0.05. Only 182 (45.8%) respondents were aware of cervical cancer. Among those aware, 78 (42.9%) had poor knowledge, and 85 (46.7%) had both poor perception and negative attitude toward cervical cancer screening. Age (p=0.001), marital status (p=0.001), ethnicity (p=0.001), religion (p=0.04), employment status (p=0.001), monthly income (p=0.001) and educational status (p=0.005) were associated with knowledge of cervical cancer. Religion (p=0.004) and monthly income (p=0.001) were associated with attitudes to cervical cancer screening. The study concluded that there is a huge gap in awareness level and knowledge level, with about half of the respondents showing poor perception and attitude towards cervical cancer and its screening among women of reproductive age group in this region. Community-based health education about cervical cancer and social mobilization for its screening is urgently required among women of reproductive age.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
References
Ifemelumma CC, Anikwe CC, Okorochukwu BC, Onu FA, Obuna JA, Ejikeme BN, et al. Cervical Cancer Screening: Assessment of Perception and Utilization of Services among Health Workers in Low Resource Setting. Int J Reprod Med. 2019;2019:6505482. doi: 10.1155/ 2019/6505482
Owoeye G, Ibrahim IA. Knowledge and attitude towards cervical cancer screening among female students and staff in a tertiary institution in the Niger Delta. International Journal of Medicine and Biomedical Research. 2013;2:48-56.
Heena H, Durrani S, AlFayyad I, Riaz M, Tabasim R, Parvez G, et al. Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices towards Cervical Cancer and Screening amongst Female Healthcare Professionals: A Cross-Sectional Study. J Oncol. 2019;2019:5423130.
Awodele O, Adeyomoye AA, Awodele DF, Kwashi V, Awodele IO, Dolapo DC. A study on cervical cancer screening amongst nurses in Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria. J Cancer Educ. 2011;26(3): 497-504. doi: 10.1007/s13187-010-0187-6
Vu M, Yu J, Awolude OA, Chuang L. Cervical cancer worldwide. Curr Probl Cancer. 2018;42(5):457-65. doi: 10.1016/j.currproblcancer.2018.06.003
World Health Organization. Cervical cancer, Key facts [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2022 Sept 8]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cervical-cancer.
World Health Organization. Cervical cancer Nigeria 2021 country profile [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2022 Sept 8]. Available from: https://www.who.int/ publications/m/item/cervical-cancer-nga-country-profile-2021.
Crosbie EJ. Gynaecology by Ten Teachers [Internet]. International Student Edition, 20th Edition, CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group; 2017 [cited 2022 Sept 8]. Available from: https://www.medicinebau.com/uploads/7/9/0/4/79048958/gynaecology_by_ten_teachers_20th_edition_1.pdf.
Momenimovahed Z, Salehiniya H. Incidence, mortality and risk factors of cervical cancer in the world. Biomedical Research and Therapy. 2017;4:1795.
Osei EA, Appiah S, Gaogli JE, Oti-Boadi E. Knowledge on cervical cancer screening and vaccination among females at Oyibi Community. BMC Womens Health. 2021; 21(1):148. doi: 10.1186/s12905-021-01296-3
Saleh HS. Can visual inspection with acetic acid be used as an alternative to Pap smear in screening cervical cancer? Middle East Fertility Society Journal. 2014;19(3):187-91. doi: 10.1016/j.mefs.2013.10.003.
Yimer NB, Mohammed MA, Solomon K, Tadese M, Grutzmacher S, Meikena HK, et al. Cervical cancer screening uptake in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Public Health. 2021;195:105-11. doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2021.04.014
Federal Ministry of Health. Nigeria Cancer Control Plan 2008–2013, FMOH, Abuja, Nigeria [Internet]. 2008. Available from: https://extranet. who.int/ncdccs/Data/NGA_B5_Nigeria-Cancer-Plan-2008-2013.
Abiodun 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. J Dent Med Sci. 2013;10:52-8.
Patel DA, Saraiya M, Copeland G, Cote ML, Datta SD, Sawaya GF. Treatment patterns for cervical carcinoma in situ in Michigan, 1998-2003. J Registry Manag. 2013;40(2):84-92.
Binka C, Nyarko SH, Doku DT. Cervical Cancer Knowledge, Perceptions and Screening Behaviour Among Female University Students in Ghana. J Cancer Educ. 2016;31(2): 322-7. doi: 10.1007/s13187-015-0852-x
Idowu A, Olowookere SA, Fagbemi AT, Ogunlaja OA. Determinants of Cervical Cancer Screening Uptake among Women in Ilorin, North Central Nigeria: A Community-Based Study. J Cancer Epidemiol. 2016;2016: 6469240. doi: 10.1155/2016/6469240.
Akintayo AA , Olowolayemo RO , Olomojobi OG , Seluwa GA , Akin-Akintayo OO, Fasubaa OB. Awareness of cervical cancer and its prevention among young women in Ekiti State, South-West Nigeria. Trop J Obstet Gynaecol. 2013;30(2):83-90.
Wright KO, Aiyedehin O, Akinyinka MR, Ilozumba O. Cervical cancer: community perception and preventive practices in an urban neighborhood of lagos (Nigeria). ISRN Prev Med. 2014;2014:950534. doi: 10.1155/ 2014/950534
Assoumou SZ, Mabika BM, Mbiguino AN, Mouallif M, Khattabi A, Ennaji MM. Awareness and knowledge regarding of cervical cancer, Pap smear screening and human papillomavirus infection in Gabonese women. BMC Womens Health. 2015;15:37. doi: 10.1186/s12905-015-0193-2
Aswathy S, Quereshi MA, Kurian B, Leelamoni K. Cervical cancer screening: Current knowledge & practice among women in a rural population of Kerala, India. Indian J Med Res. 2012;136(2):205-10.
Mbamara SU, Ikpeze OC, Okonkwo JE, Onyiaorah IV, Ukah CO. Knowledge, attitude and practice of cervical cancer screening among women attending gynecology clinics in a tertiary level medical care center in southeastern Nigeria. J Reprod Med. 2011;56(11-12):491-6.
Dozie UW, Elebari BL, Nwaokoro CJ, Iwuoha GN, Emerole CO, Akawi AJ, et al. Knowledge, attitude and perception on cervical cancer screening among women attending ante-natal clinic in Owerri west L.G.A, South-Eastern Nigeria: A cross-sectional study. Cancer Treat Res Commun. 2021;28:100392
Taneja N, Chawla B, Awasthi AA, Shrivastav KD, Jaggi VK, Janardhanan R. Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice on Cervical Cancer and Screening Among Women in India: A Review. Cancer Control. 2021;28: 10732748211010799. doi: 10.1177/ 10732748211010799
Ferdous J, Kharun S, Ferdius NE, Sharmin F, Akhter L, Keya KA. Attitude and practice of cervcal cancer screening among the female doctors of Bangabandhu Sheik Mujib MedicalUniversity. Bangladesh Medical Journal. 2016;45(2):66-71.
Ghosh S, Mallya SD, Shetty RS, Pattanshetty SM, Pandey D, Kabekkodu SP, et al. Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Towards Cervical Cancer and its Screening Among Women from Tribal Population: a Community-Based Study from Southern India. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. 2021;8(1):88-93. doi: 10.1007/s40615-020-00760-4
Hoque M, Hoque E, Kader SB. Evaluation of cervical cancer screening program at a rural community of South Africa. East Afr J Public Health. 2008;5(2):111-6.
Okesiji IO, Amosu AM. Knowledge, Perception and Cervical Cancer Screening Practices among Female Nurses Working in Healthcare Facilities in Lagos State, Nigeria. IJPHP. 2021;1(1):74-92. doi: 10.52589/IJPHP-VBJ0YBPJ.
Olubodun T, Odukoya OO, Balogun MR. Knowledge, attitude and practice of cervical cancer prevention, among women residing in an urban slum in Lagos, South West, Nigeria. PAMJ. 2019;32:130. doi: 10.11604/pamj. 2019.32.130.14432
Amu OE. Awareness, Knowledge and Attitude to Cervical Cancer and Its Screening among Females in Somolu Local Government Area, Lagos, Nigeria. J Community Med Health Care. 2019;4(1):1031.
Oche MO, Kaoje AU, Gana G, Ango JT. Cancer of the cervix and cervical screening: Current knowledge, attitude and practices of female health workers in Sokoto, Nigeria. Int J Med Med Sci. 2013;5(4):184-90. doi: 10.5897/ IJMMS2013.0886.
Tsegay A, Araya T, Amare K, F GT. Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice on Cervical Cancer Screening and Associated Factors Among Women Aged 15-49 Years in Adigrat Town, Northern Ethiopia, 2019: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study. Int J Womens Health. 2020; 12:1283-98. doi: 10.2147/IJWH. S261204
Mousavi F, Shojaei P, Aryan H. Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice Related to Pap Smear Test among Iranian Women. Int J Womens Health Wellness. 2018;4:076. doi: doi.org/ 10.23937/2474-1353/1510076.