A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON UPTAKE OF CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING

ABSTRACT

Worldwide, cervical cancer continues to be a leading cause of illness and mortality among women. Among 507 female healthcare professionals working in tertiary hospitals in Edo State, this comparative descriptive cross-sectional study evaluated attitudes toward and adoption of cervical cancer screening (CCS). Participants were recruited at institutional level using stratified proportionate and convenient sampling techniques. The structured questionnaire used for data collection had a reliability rating of 0.862. The data were analysed using SPSS version 22. The result shows that the mean age of the participants was (33.25 ± 9.981years), nurses were 418(82.4%) while doctors 89(17.6%). Positive attitude was 398(78.5%) while negative attitude was 109(21.5%). Attitude towards CCS uptake was not associated with participants’ profession and institution of practice (P = 0.096) and (P = 0.389) respectively. Life time CCS uptake was (32.7%) while within past 3years uptake (14.0%). CCS uptake was significantly associated with the participants’ profession and their healthcare institution of practice (P < 0.001) respectively. Older age (51-60years) (AOR = 57.223, P <0.001, 95%CI: 12.059-271.545); Other tribes (AOR = 3.258, P = 0.004, 95%CI: 1.468 - 7.231), Health institution of practice (ISTH) (AOR = 2.302, P = 0.004, 95%CI: 1.312 - 4.038), being a nurse (AOR = .114, P < 0.001, 95%CI: .039 - .333); years of work experience (6-10years) (AOR = 20.161, P < 0.001, 95%CI: 4.806 - 84.577), and being married (AOR = 18.839, P < 0.001, 95%CI: 8.444 - 42.030) significantly predict screening uptake. Major barriers to CCS uptake were just don’t feel like to do it (86.2%) and no reason (56.6%). Conclusion: there is poor CCS uptake despite positive attitude towards CCS. Therefore, easier-to-perform such as use of home testing kits should be encouraged.