Attitude of Patients in a General Hospital to Cervical Cancer Screening

Abstract

Cancer of the cervix is still a major killer among Nigerian women and other developing countries (1, 2). This is due to absence of an effective national programme, as a result of infrastructural, financial and personnel constraints. However, there are newer cost effective, yet reliable screening methods adaptable to low health budgeting nation like Nigeria. The level of awareness and utilization of Pap smear of the women population who are non-health workers is yet unknown, as previous studies addressed the health workers and women working in the hospitals. This is very important to designing a successful screening programme in any environment. The objectives of this study is: 1) To determine current level of awareness and utilization of cervical cancer screening (Pap smear) among women attending a General Hospital. 2) To identify sources of information on
the subject. 3) To determine the socio-demographic factors associated with these behavior. A semi structured questionnaire was administered to women attending family planning and Gynaecological Clinic’s at the State Hospital Asubiaro Osogbo. The study was carried out between January 2nd to December 31st 2008. The response was analyzed. Significant percentage of women accessing reproductive health services in this Hospital were not aware of cervical cancer screening and there was low level of uptake of Pap smear test. Mass media and Non-governmental Organization activities were the main sources of information on cervical cancer screening. More than one third of the respondent gave no reason for non-utilization of Pap smear. A significant percentage of women attending reproductive health services in this Hospital were not aware of cervical cancer screening and the uptake of Pap smear in this group of women was abysmally low. Health care providers need to include cervical cancer screening into the content of information, education and counseling services. As this may increase uptake of Pap smear and other screening tests when such are introduced.

Key Words: Attitude, Cancer, Screening, Reproductive Health