KNOWLEDGE AND ACCEPTABILITY OF CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING AMONG FEMALE FULL-TIME STUDENTS IN THE UNIVERSITY OF BENIN

ABSTRACT

Cancer of the cervix remains the most common malignant neoplasm of the female genitalia and the second most common cancer in women. Cervical Cancer screening serves to detect the possibility that a cancer is present. The main objective of the study was to determine the knowledge and acceptability of Cervical Cancer Screening among Female Full-Time Students in University of Benin. Survey research design was used in the study. Purposive sampling technique was used to select the sample. The sample consisted of 300 Female Full-Time Students in University of Benin. Data was collected using questionnaire. The findings revealed that 42.3% of the respondents were between the age of 18-20 years, 44% respondents were 14-19years old when they had their first sexual intercourse, the majority 79% of respondents have heard of cervical cancer, majority 56.7% of respondents heard about cervical cancer from media, 34.7% participants explained cervical cancer as abnormal lesion on the cervix, 33.3% respondents stated that multiple sexual partners is a risk factor of cervical cancer, 30.0% of respondents stated that abnormal vaginal bleeding is a sign of cervical cancer, 81.3% respondents stated that cervical cancer can be detected by cervical cancer screening, majority 88.3% of respondents stated that cervical cancer screening is done in hospital, majority 85.0% of respondents had never been screened for cervical cancer, the majority 95.0% of the respondents had no intention of going for cervical cancer screening, majority 43.3% of respondents stated that fear of testing positive is a major barrier to cervical cancer screening. The study recommends among others that Cervical cancer screening center should be made available in university of Benin health center at subsidized rate so that female students can easily access the service.