PERCEPTION AND UTILIZATION OF CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING SERVICES AMONG FEMALE NURSES IN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE HOSPITAL, IBADAN, NIGERIA

Abstract

Cervical Cancer (CC) is the second most common cancer among women worldwide, and the best options for its management are early detection and prompt treatment. In Nigeria, female nurses in tertiary health care facilities have crucial roles to play as role models in promoting the adoption of Cervical Cancer Screening Services (CCSS), yet little information exists regarding their perception and utilization of these services. The CCSS related knowledge, perception and utilization among female nurses at the University College Hospital, (UCH) lbadan were therefore determined. A survey was conducted from April to July 2009 among 503 nurses selected using stratified random sampling technique out of 1006 nurses. The stratification was done by cadre. A self-administered questionnaire which included a 40-point knowledge scale and questions on nurses' perception of CCSS was used for data collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, ANOVA and logistic regression. Most (80.9%) respondents were married, 91.8% were Christians, 86.3% were Yoruba and the overall mean age was 38.0±8.6 years. The mean year of experience was 12.5 ± 8.9 years and 28.6% of them were staff nurses. Respondents' mean knowledge score was 22.8±4.1. The mean knowledge scores by cadre were Assistant Directors (26.7 ± 1.5), Chief Nursing Officers (23.4 ± 2.3) and Staff Nurses (21.7 ± 5.1) (p<0.05). Eighty-eight percent of respondents correctly perceived CC to be preventable while 51.7% believed that its early detection could be done through regular pap smear examination. Eighty-two percent believed that screening, should be carried out as soon as sexual intercourse started irrespective of age. Of the 59.0% respondents who had practiced in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department, only 44.8% had ever been screened for CC. Although 83.5% nurses were aware of the screening centre in UCH, only 32.6% had ever used the facility, majority, (29.0%) were Principal Nursing Officers. A few (34.6%) respondents would be willing to use CCSS in the future. Age and years of experience were significantly associated with the utilization of CCSS (p<0.05). Main reasons for not using CCSS included lack of time (50.8%), fear of result (13.9%) and not being sexually active (6.3%). Staff Nurses were twice less likely to utilise cervical screening services than the Assistant Directors of Nursing (OR 0.23, CI 0.117-0.442), (p<0.05). Knowledge and utilization of cervical cancer screening services among the female nurses were low. Nurses' level of knowledge about cervical cancer should therefore be upgraded through educational interventions and be motivated to adopt cervical screening services.