| dc.description | A Project submitted to the Department of Health Promotion and Education, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the Degree of Master of Public Health (Health Promotion and Education) of the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. | en_US |
| dc.description.abstract | Cervical cancer (CC) is the malignant cancer of the cervix area and human papilloma
virus infection is the necessary factor for the development of nearly all cases of cervical
cancer. CC is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer among women of
reproductive age group; yet screening for early detection of the disease among them is
not a common practice in Nigeria. Past studies have documented knowledge and
perception of cervical cancer screening services practices and its antecedents among
Nigerian women but few have indepthly access the perceived factors that have
contributed to low utilization of screening services among women in semi-urban areas in
Nigeria. This study therefore, investigated the barriers to utilization of cervical cancer
screening service among women of reproductive age in Ondo town, Ondo State.
A descriptive cross-sectional survey was adopted using a four stage sampling technique
to select two hundred and forty four consenting women of reproductive age in Ondo
town. A validated semi-structured interviewer administered questionnaire was used to
solicit information including a 30 point CC-related knowledge and 12-point perception
scales questions on utilization and barriers to utilize the screening service from
respondents. Knowledge scores ≤10,>10-≤20,>20-30 were classified poor, fair and good
respectively. Perception scores <7 and ≥7 were categorized as negative and positive
perception respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square
test at p=0.05.
Respondents’ mean age was 30±6.8 years, 75.4% were Yoruba, 81.6% were of Christians
faith and 70.9% were married. More than half (58.2%) had tertiary education. Overall
mean knowledge score was 17.1±5.3; Respondents with poor, fair and good knowledge
of CC were 11.1%, 53.3%, 35.6% respectively. Majority, (73.8%) have heard about CC,
67.8% correctly defined CC with 76.1% reported virus as causes of cervical cancer and
42.6% had positive perception towards CC. More than half (58.9%) were aware of CC
screening methods. Only (15.6%) of the respondents have done screening for CC and the
decision to do the screening was personal in 78.6% of the respondents. The main barriers
hindering the utilization of CC screening services were: fear of the result (65.1%),
negative attitudes of health worker (51.3%) and husband’s influence on decision (51.0%).
The knowledge of respondents was not significantly associated with their utilization of
cervical screening service. Also, respondents’ perception was not significantly associated
with their knowledge about cervical cancer.
Low utilization of the screening services based on perceived misconception was noticed
among study participants. Health promotion strategies such as social mobilization that
will target community leaders, traditional rulers, religious organizations and faith based
institutions and not just families. Also, NGOs can partner with health facilities in
promoting service availability, affordability and utilization. Health workers should help
change perception of non susceptibility of the women. Recruiting and training of health
care providers on procedures of the screening and how to educate women on the need to
go for the cervical cancer screening services. | en_US |
