Perception of Cervical Cancer and Cervical Screening, And Uptake of Pap Smear Among Female Employees of the Jos University Teaching Hospital And Its Environs

Background: Cervical cancer is the most common cancer and leading cause of death from cancer among women in Nigeria owing to late presentation. This is attributed to lack of an effective national cervical cancer screening programme or poor utilization of the few existing services. Objective: This study was undertaken to determine the perception of female employees of the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) and those from its immediate environ regarding cervical cancer and Pap smear, their attitude towards Pap smear and their uptake of the available cervical screening service in the hospital. Methodology: The study was a cross-sectional questionnaire survey of 368 female employees of JUTH and of those in its environ. The predesigned, pretested questionnaire explored the socio-demographic characteristics, awareness of cervical cancer and Pap smear test, attitude to and uptake of Pap smear. The variations of these parameters with socio-demographic determinants were subjected to statistical analysis at a P value of < 0.05. Result: Majority of the respondents (58.2%) belonged to the other ethnic groups as opposed to Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa/Fulani. Majority of them were married (70.7%). Three hundred and fourteen (85.3%) had tertiary education. Nurses accounted for 48.4% of the respondents. Majority of the respondents (89.1%) were aware of cervical cancer; 87% were aware of Pap smear; 98.9% displayed a positive attitude towards Pap smear as a screening test; however, only 32.6% had ever had a pap smear. Despite this, more than half of them (57.6%) were aware of the cervical screening service in JUTH. The main determinants of awareness of cervical cancer and Pap smear were age and educational status; while age and marital status were the major determinants of Pap smear uptake, educational level having no significant influence on Pap smear uptake. Conclusion: Despite the display of high awareness of cervical cancer and Pap smear as a screening test, and apparent good attitude to Pap smear by respondents and the presence of a cervical screening centre within their reach, Pap smear uptake amongst the respondents was poor. There is, therefore, a need for intensive advocacy in favour of a good attitude towards Pap smear and its uptake by the respondents and other women.