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Knowledge of Cervical Cancer and Attitudes Towards Its Prevention Among Women Attending Antenatal Clinics in Primary Health Centres in a Niger Delta Capital City

Received: 28 March 2022    Accepted: 15 April 2022    Published: 26 April 2022
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Abstract

Introduction Cervical cancer is the fourth commonest cause of cancer and cancer-related deaths among women worldwide and commonest gynaecological cancer in Nigeria. This study sort to determine the awareness of cervical cancer, its prevention and determine the attitude and practice of these women towards screening. Materials and methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional questionnaire-based study to assess the knowledge, attitude and utilisation of cervical cancer screening among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in primary health centres in Uyo, South-south Nigeria. Results: The mean age of respondents was 34.7±8.9 years. The majority (76.7%) had post-secondary education, were married (69.6%), had 2 or more lifetime sexual partners (>60%) and had been pregnant twice (25%). Most (87.5%) have heard about cervical cancer, mainly from health workers, 116 (44.8%). The top 2 clinical features known were abnormal vaginal bleeding 177 (59.8%) and foul-smelling vaginal discharge 157 (53.0%) while the commonest risk factors mentioned were sex at early age 145 (49.0%) and multiple sexual partners 135 (45.6%). Preventive strategies known include quitting smoking (53.4%), avoiding early sexual intercourse (49%) and avoiding multiple sexual partners (48.3%). The majority, 186 (62.8%) knew about screening measures but less than a quarter knew that all sexually active women should be screened 46 (15.5%), while only 24.7% were aware of free services, 15.2% had ever been screened. The commonest reasons for non-screening were not feeling at risk 68 (27.1%) and being unaware of screening 57 (22.7%) while most had a positive attitude towards screening for cervical cancer. 167 (56.4%). Conclusion: The good knowledge of cervical cancer and attitude towards its screening was not matched by action as only a few had ever been screened despite their high lifetime risk for it. There is therefore the need for further awareness creation on cervical cancer prevention with the aim of increasing their uptake of available screening services in the state.

Published in Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics (Volume 10, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.jgo.20221002.24
Page(s) 152-158
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Cervical Cancer, Knowledge, Awareness, Attitudes, Prevention, Primary Health Centres

References
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    Matthias Gabriel Abah, Bles Akpabio Atat, Emmanuel Bassey Edu, Essien Iniokpon Attah, Iniobong Abah. (2022). Knowledge of Cervical Cancer and Attitudes Towards Its Prevention Among Women Attending Antenatal Clinics in Primary Health Centres in a Niger Delta Capital City. Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 10(2), 152-158. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jgo.20221002.24

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    Matthias Gabriel Abah; Bles Akpabio Atat; Emmanuel Bassey Edu; Essien Iniokpon Attah; Iniobong Abah. Knowledge of Cervical Cancer and Attitudes Towards Its Prevention Among Women Attending Antenatal Clinics in Primary Health Centres in a Niger Delta Capital City. J. Gynecol. Obstet. 2022, 10(2), 152-158. doi: 10.11648/j.jgo.20221002.24

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    AMA Style

    Matthias Gabriel Abah, Bles Akpabio Atat, Emmanuel Bassey Edu, Essien Iniokpon Attah, Iniobong Abah. Knowledge of Cervical Cancer and Attitudes Towards Its Prevention Among Women Attending Antenatal Clinics in Primary Health Centres in a Niger Delta Capital City. J Gynecol Obstet. 2022;10(2):152-158. doi: 10.11648/j.jgo.20221002.24

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  • @article{10.11648/j.jgo.20221002.24,
      author = {Matthias Gabriel Abah and Bles Akpabio Atat and Emmanuel Bassey Edu and Essien Iniokpon Attah and Iniobong Abah},
      title = {Knowledge of Cervical Cancer and Attitudes Towards Its Prevention Among Women Attending Antenatal Clinics in Primary Health Centres in a Niger Delta Capital City},
      journal = {Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics},
      volume = {10},
      number = {2},
      pages = {152-158},
      doi = {10.11648/j.jgo.20221002.24},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jgo.20221002.24},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jgo.20221002.24},
      abstract = {Introduction Cervical cancer is the fourth commonest cause of cancer and cancer-related deaths among women worldwide and commonest gynaecological cancer in Nigeria. This study sort to determine the awareness of cervical cancer, its prevention and determine the attitude and practice of these women towards screening. Materials and methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional questionnaire-based study to assess the knowledge, attitude and utilisation of cervical cancer screening among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in primary health centres in Uyo, South-south Nigeria. Results: The mean age of respondents was 34.7±8.9 years. The majority (76.7%) had post-secondary education, were married (69.6%), had 2 or more lifetime sexual partners (>60%) and had been pregnant twice (25%). Most (87.5%) have heard about cervical cancer, mainly from health workers, 116 (44.8%). The top 2 clinical features known were abnormal vaginal bleeding 177 (59.8%) and foul-smelling vaginal discharge 157 (53.0%) while the commonest risk factors mentioned were sex at early age 145 (49.0%) and multiple sexual partners 135 (45.6%). Preventive strategies known include quitting smoking (53.4%), avoiding early sexual intercourse (49%) and avoiding multiple sexual partners (48.3%). The majority, 186 (62.8%) knew about screening measures but less than a quarter knew that all sexually active women should be screened 46 (15.5%), while only 24.7% were aware of free services, 15.2% had ever been screened. The commonest reasons for non-screening were not feeling at risk 68 (27.1%) and being unaware of screening 57 (22.7%) while most had a positive attitude towards screening for cervical cancer. 167 (56.4%). Conclusion: The good knowledge of cervical cancer and attitude towards its screening was not matched by action as only a few had ever been screened despite their high lifetime risk for it. There is therefore the need for further awareness creation on cervical cancer prevention with the aim of increasing their uptake of available screening services in the state.},
     year = {2022}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Knowledge of Cervical Cancer and Attitudes Towards Its Prevention Among Women Attending Antenatal Clinics in Primary Health Centres in a Niger Delta Capital City
    AU  - Matthias Gabriel Abah
    AU  - Bles Akpabio Atat
    AU  - Emmanuel Bassey Edu
    AU  - Essien Iniokpon Attah
    AU  - Iniobong Abah
    Y1  - 2022/04/26
    PY  - 2022
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jgo.20221002.24
    DO  - 10.11648/j.jgo.20221002.24
    T2  - Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics
    JF  - Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics
    JO  - Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics
    SP  - 152
    EP  - 158
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2376-7820
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jgo.20221002.24
    AB  - Introduction Cervical cancer is the fourth commonest cause of cancer and cancer-related deaths among women worldwide and commonest gynaecological cancer in Nigeria. This study sort to determine the awareness of cervical cancer, its prevention and determine the attitude and practice of these women towards screening. Materials and methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional questionnaire-based study to assess the knowledge, attitude and utilisation of cervical cancer screening among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in primary health centres in Uyo, South-south Nigeria. Results: The mean age of respondents was 34.7±8.9 years. The majority (76.7%) had post-secondary education, were married (69.6%), had 2 or more lifetime sexual partners (>60%) and had been pregnant twice (25%). Most (87.5%) have heard about cervical cancer, mainly from health workers, 116 (44.8%). The top 2 clinical features known were abnormal vaginal bleeding 177 (59.8%) and foul-smelling vaginal discharge 157 (53.0%) while the commonest risk factors mentioned were sex at early age 145 (49.0%) and multiple sexual partners 135 (45.6%). Preventive strategies known include quitting smoking (53.4%), avoiding early sexual intercourse (49%) and avoiding multiple sexual partners (48.3%). The majority, 186 (62.8%) knew about screening measures but less than a quarter knew that all sexually active women should be screened 46 (15.5%), while only 24.7% were aware of free services, 15.2% had ever been screened. The commonest reasons for non-screening were not feeling at risk 68 (27.1%) and being unaware of screening 57 (22.7%) while most had a positive attitude towards screening for cervical cancer. 167 (56.4%). Conclusion: The good knowledge of cervical cancer and attitude towards its screening was not matched by action as only a few had ever been screened despite their high lifetime risk for it. There is therefore the need for further awareness creation on cervical cancer prevention with the aim of increasing their uptake of available screening services in the state.
    VL  - 10
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Nigeria

  • Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Nigeria

  • Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Nigeria

  • Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Nigeria

  • Department of Radiology, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Nigeria

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