Keywords
CERVICAL CANCER
SCREENING UPTAKE
HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS
Abstract
Introduction: Cancer of the cervix is the second most common cancer among women worldwide and is the major cause of cancer deaths in developing countries. Screening is among the common cost effective control methods for the disease. This study ascertained the determinants of cervical cancer screening uptake among female undergraduates in a tertiary institution in south eastern Nigeria.
Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted using a stratified sampling technique among 375 respondents. A pretested semi structured questionnaire was used for data collection and SPSS version 21 was used in data analysis in which the association between qualitative variables was ascertained using Chi-square test at p<0.05 probability level.
Results: The result revealed that majority of 321 (85.6%) were aware of CC as a disease and 202 (53.9%) of the respondents were aware of cervical cancer screening test. The study revealed that the uptake of cervical cancer screening was low among the female undergraduates. Only few 27 (7.2%) of the respondents have been previously screened for cervical cancer. High cost of screening 128 (31.2%) was the major reason for not undergoing screening. Significant association existed between socio-demographic variables (age, level of study, marital status and monthly allowance) and uptake of cervical cancer. Most of the respondents 10 (17.2%) that had been screened for cervical cancer were within the age bracket of 25-29 years and were in 500 level 21(19.4). Cervical cancer uptake was higher 9 (29%) in married females compared to single females 18 (5.2%). It was also indicated that all the participants who have been screened were screened at a cost of ₦ 1,001- ₦ 2,000. Majority of them 11 (25.6%) earned monthly allowance of ₦ 23,001- ₦ 30,000. Strong association were also found between awareness of cervical cancer (X² = 4.89, P = 0.027), availability of screening centre (X² = 37.433, P = <0.001), cost of screening (X² = 100,793, P = <0.001) and uptake of screening.
Conclusion: The study revealed that the uptake of cervical cancer screening was low among the female undergraduates. In order to enhance screening uptake among female undergraduates, there is an urgent need to review the cost of screening especially in the school’s health centre and other hospitals/clinics within the school environment.
References
(2) Airede, L., Onakewhor, J., Aziken, M., Ande, A. and Aligbe, J. (2008). Carcinoma of the Uterine Cervix in Nigerian women: The Need to Adopt a National Prevention Strategy. Sahel Medical Journal, 11(1), 1–11.
(3) Akujobi, C.N., Ikechebelu, J.I., Onunkwo, I. and Onyiaorah, I.V. (2008). Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Screening for Cervical Cancer Among Female Students of a Tertiary Institution in South Eastern Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice, 11(3): 216 – 219.
(4) Dozie, U.W., Nwadi, C.L., Umunakwe, C.P., Asuzu, N.E., Obikonu, I.R. and Dozie, I.N.S. (2020) Knowledge and Attitude towards Cervical Cancer: A Case Study of Undergraduate Students in Imo State, Nigeria. Open Access Library Journal, 7: e6441. https://doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1106441
(5) Ezem, B.U. (2007). Awareness and Uptake of Cervical Cancer Screening in Owerri, South-Eastern Nigeria. Annals of African Medicine, 6(3), 94-98.
(6) Gimba, S.M., Emmanuel, A.A., Baidi, B., Mangai, M.J. and Bukuta, G. (2014). Awareness and Practice of Cervical Cancer Screening among University of Jos Female Undergraduates. Continental Journal of Nursing Sciences, 6(1).
(7) GLOBOCAN. (2012). International agency for research on cancer, Fact sheet. Retrieved from: http://globocan.iarc.fr/Pages/fact_sheets_cancer.aspx
(8) Hyacinth, H. I., Adekeye, O. A., Ibeh, J. N. and Osoba, T. (2012). Cervical Cancer and
pap smear awareness and utilization of pap smear test among federal civil servants in north central Nigeria. Public Library of Science One, 7: e46583
(9) Idowu, A., Olowookere, S.A., Fagbemi, A.T., and Ogunlaja, O.A. (2016). Determinants
of Cervical Cancer Screening Uptake among Women in Ilorin , North Central
Nigeria : A Community-Based Study. Journal of Cancer Epidemiology.
https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/6469240
(10) Ingwu, J.A. (2016). Knowledge and Screening Practices of Cervical Cancer among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic in Tertiary Hospitals in Enugu , South-Eastern Nigeria, (October). Journal of Cancer and Tumor International, 4(2): 1-9. https://doi.org/10.9734/JCTI/2016/27118
(11) Kawonga (2003). Cancer of the cervix literature review. Women’s Health Project. University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg.
(12) Nthiga, A.M. (2014). Determinants of Cervical Cancer Screening Uptake Among Women
in Embu County, Kenya. A Masters Dissertation in the Department of Public
Health in the University of Nairobi.
(13) Nwobodo, H. and Ba-Break, M. (2017). Analysis of Interventions for Improving Cervical
Screening Uptake among Nigerian Women. Public Health Open Access, 1(2).
(14) Nwozor, C.M. and Oragudosi A.L. (2013). Awareness and Uptake of Cervical Cancer Screening among Women in Onitsha, South-East, Nigeria. Greener Journal of
Medical Sciences, 3(8), 283-288.
(15) Obom-Egbulem, K. (2010). I’ll rather recharge my phone than test for Cervical and Breast Cancer. Niger Health Journal. Available from: http://nigerianhealthjournal.com/?p=241
(16) Oguntayo, O.A., Zayyan, M., Kolawole, A.O., Adewuyi, S.A., Ismail, H. and Koledade, K. (2011). Cancer of the cervix in Zaria, Northern Nigeria. E cancer
medical science. 5, 219
(17) Oluwole, E.O., Mohammed, A.S., Akinyinka, M.R., and Salako, O. (2017). Community
Medicine and Primary Health Care Cervical Cancer Awareness and Screening
Uptake among Rural Women in Lagos , Nigeria, Journal of Community
Medicine and Primary Health Care, 29(1), 81–88.
(18) Owoeye, I.O.G., and Ibrahim, I.A. (2013). 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, 2(1), 48–56.
(19) Taro, Y. (1967). Statistics, an Introductory Analysis, 2nd ED., New York: Harper and Row.
(20) World Health Organization. (2013). Sexual and Reproductive Health. Retrieved
from: https://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/topics/cancers/en/
(21) World Health Organization. (2015). Cervical Cancer. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs380/en/