The Predictors for Non-Adherence to Colposcopy among Women in an Underserved Community in Rural Southern Western Nigeria

Abstract

Background. Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women. It is a major public health problem in developing countries. Effective cervical cancer screening requires that women adhere to the screening program. The factors that influence adherence to colposcopy in rural areas of Nigeria are unknown. The objective of the study was to determine the factors that 0determine adherence and the sexual and reproductive factors that are associated with non-adherence of women to colposcopy.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of a project undertaken to determine the age- specific incidence of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection in Irun Akoko, a rural town in Ondo state of Nigeria. A total of 492 women with abnormal results from 1420 women that were screened were recalled for colposcopy examination.

Results:  The non-adherence rate for colposcopy in this study was 25.8%. Women younger than 40years (p= 0.0011) and those with number of living children ≤2 (p=0.04) are more likely to be non-adherent to colposcopy.

Conclusion: The non-adherence rate to colposcopy was high. Younger women and those with fewer children were more likely not to adhere to colposcopy.