KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND UTILISATION OF CERVICAL CYTOLOGY SERVICES BY PROFESSIONAL FEMALE NURSES IN IBADAN MUNICIPALITY, OYO STATE: IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER EDUCATION

Abstract

Cancer of the cervix is the most common malignant tumour seen in women in developing countries. In 1990, an incidence of 8.4% was reported in the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. It has been established that Papanicoiaou (Pap) test is effective in detecting early cancer of the cervix thus preventing deaths from the disease. In this regard, education of the public is needed to prevent further increases in cancer of the cervix among women, which nurses by virtue of their roles in health care delivery system are expected to provide. Although nurses by their professional preparation ought to know and practise this preventive behaviour (Pap test), there is no empirical evidence to suggest that this is so. Professional female nurses are well recognized in Nigeria, and as health professionals, they should serve as role models in preventive health care especially with regard to cervical cancer. Therefore, if the practice of cervical cytology is well entrenched among female nurses, they may influence positively the attitude of the entire female population towards the test. This study therefore assessed the level of knowledge of professional female nurses on cervical cytology, their attitude towards it, and the extent to which they utilize cytological services. The variables of interest Include: demography, knowledge of, attitude to, and extent of utilization of cervical cytology services by professional female nurses. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey. A multi-sage sampling technique was used to select 500 professional female nurses in Teaching, State Government, Mission and Private Hospitals including health centres in Ibadan Municipality. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Six hypotheses were tested in all. Results indicated that although respondents' knowledge level is poor (mean score = 5.0), they are favourably disposed to cervical cytology (mean score = 40). However, only 9.4% of the respondents had ever utilized Pap smear services. Furthermore significant differences exist in knowledge levels of respondents working in different hospitals; knowledge and attitude of those with different professional qualifications; and those utilizing Pap smear services in different hospitals, and among different age groups (P < 0.05). In addition, a positive correlation was found between the respondents knowledge of, attitude to, and utilization of Pap smear services (P < 0.05). Based on these findings, cancer education strategies to improve knowledge, attitude and utilization of cervical cytology services by nurses were suggested.