Knowledge, Attitude And Practice Of Cervical Cancer Screening Among Women In Nsukka Lga Of Enugu State
Sussan Nkechi Okoli
Department of Human Kinetics & Health Education, Enugu State University of Science & Technology (ESUT), Enugu State, Nigeria
Chukwuemeka Mathias Ugwuegede
Department of Human Kinetics & Health Education, Enugu State University of Science & Technology (ESUT), Enugu State, Nigeria
Uchechi Glory Igbo
Department of Human Kinetics & Health Education, Enugu State University of Science & Technology (ESUT), Enugu State, Nigeria
Keywords: Cervical cancer, Cancer screening, Knowledge, Attitude, Practice
Abstract
: The study examined knowledge, attitude and practices of cervical cancer screening among women in Nsukka LGA. of Enugu State. Three research questions and three hypotheses guided the study. Descriptive survey research design was adopted. The population comprised of 1,322 (471 educated and 851 uneducated) women attending primary healthcare in Nsukka LGA. The sample for the study was 266 respondents. Proportionate sampling technique was used to get 20% of the population. The instrument for data collection was researcher’s made, structured and validated questionnaire titled “Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Cervical Cancer Screening Questionnaire (KAPCCSQ)”. The instrument was administered and collected on the spot with the help of two research assistants who are healthcare workers. Frequency counts and percentages were used to answer research question 1, while mean (X) and SD were used to answer research questions 2 and 3 respectively. The hypotheses were tested using chi-square and t-test statistic. At the level of data analysis, only 248 women were used. Findings revealed that women in Nsukka LGA. of Enugu State have high level knowledge of cervical cancer screening (81.6%). The attitude towards screening was also positive (X=2.55) while the practice of cervical cancer was at low extent (X=2.42). Significant difference does not exist between the two groups of women studied regarding the level of knowledge possessed (P>0.05) while differences existed with respect to attitude and practice of screening (P<0.05). It was concluded that majority of women possess high level of knowledge and attitude towards cervical cancer screening with negative dispositions to practice of it. Based on the findings, the researchers recommend among others that Enugu State government through the Ministry of Health should ensure that the cost of cervical cancer screening is highly subsidized or made free while efforts should be intensified to break the barriers to practice of cervical cancer screening