PREVALENCE OF CERVICAL CANCER AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS

ABSTRACT

Cervical cancer is notably the fourth most common cancer in women World-wide. In Edo state particularly, it stands out to be the second most common cancer in women, thus succeeding breast cancer. This study examined the prevalence of cervical cancer and associated risk factors among patients in a tertiary health facility. The oncology unit of University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Edo state, was used as the research setting. The objective of this research work aims at determining the prevalence of cervical cancer, identifying the associated risk factors; determine the distribution of cervical cancer survivors and mortality rates. The research design used was a retrospective descriptive survey design method. The total population for the research was three thousand six hundred and fifty four, of which one hundred and twenty eight were diagnosed of cervical cancer. This was arrived at using purposive sampling technique. A well-structured checklist was used to obtain data relevant to the research objectives. Parameters on social demographical characteristics, and medical information’s including total admission, cervical cancer diagnosis, stages, survival/death and risk factors were included on the checklist. The study showed that the prevalence of cervical cancer was 7.0, 1.7, 4.9, 6.1, 7.5 and 10.8 in the various years studied respectively. The most prevalent risk factors were oral contraceptive usage and immunosuppression. The percentage of survivors was 85.9% which was significantly high and traced to the early stages detection of the cancer and follow up care. The percentage of death was 14.1%, which was more among the immunosuppressed individuals. The study therefore recommends that HPV vaccination, cervical cancer screening and health education of cervical cancer should be implemented, as this will aid early detection and subsequently prompt management of these risk factors.