Comparative Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Cervical Cancer Screening among Faith Based and Non-Faith Based Women In Surulere LGA, Lagos.

Abstract

Cancer of the cervix is a preventable disease and the key aspect to its prevention and good outcome is early detection of its premalignant form by cervical screening. This study is a comparative study among married faith based women (parishioners in a catholic church ) for whom a subsidized cancer screening programe is available in their church clinic and non faith based women (non parishioners ) residing in Surulere Local Government Area. The aim is to assess and compare their knowledge, attitude and utilization of cervical cancer screening. Multistage sampling was used to select 270 respondents in each group .Data was collected from the Five hundred and forty women who participated in the study using interview administered questionnaire. The data obtained was analyzed using Epi-Info statistical software. Both groups of women had similar socio-demographic characteristic. Knowledge of cervical cancer and uptake of cervical cancer screening was poor among women in both groups. However, more parishioners (18.9%) have good knowledge of cervical cancer than the non parishioners (8.9%) and slightly more parishioners (16.9%) have been screened for cervical cancer than non parishioners (15.8%). The government, faith based and non faith based organizations have a role to play in improving the poor level of cancer knowledge and screening practice among women. Health education should be provided and routine subsidized cervical cancer screening should be integrated with other reproductive health services provided.

Key words: Cervical cancer, screening, knowledge, utilization