International Research Journal of Oncology

Cervical cancer remains a leading cause of death among females in the developing country with poor prognosis attributed to lack of awareness about the disease and its prevention.

This study sought to assess the uptake of cervical cancer screening service and associated factors among female civil servants in Oyo State Secretariat, Ibadan, Nigeria.

A cross-sectional descriptive survey was carried out among 400 randomly selected female workers in Oyo State Secretariat in September 2023 using a self-administered questionnaire probing into basic demographic characteristics, uptake of cervical cancer screening service and associated factors. Variation of these parameters with socio-demographic characteristics were studied.

A total of 400 women aged between 25 to 46 and older participated in the survey. Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20.0. Descriptive statistics were conducted for all relevant data. The mean age was 30.5 (range from 16 to 72 years) and approximately two-thirds (46.25%) of the participants were aged 26 to 35 years. Majority of the respondents (63.5%) have already had cervical screening test but only 31.75% had performed a breast self-examination more than 2 years ago. 74.50% of the respondents had performed a breast self-examination and 22.50%, 23% and 32.25% had it in the last 2 months, 3 months and more than 3 months ago respectively.

This study found that the majority of the respondents (63.5%) had cervical screening test while 31.75% had performed a breast self-examination more than 2 years ago, 74.50% of the respondents had performed a breast self-examination and 22.50%, 23% and 32.25% had it in the last 2 months, 3 months and more than 3 months ago respectively. Also, 94% of the respondents believed that healthy adult women should have cervical cancer screening test every two years while 64% of the respondents believed that cervical cancer screening tests are not important for a woman at their age, 41.75% and 96.75% of the respondents ascertained that only women who have had many sexual partners need to have cervical cancer screening test and purpose of cervical cancer screening test is to detect early signs of cervical cancer respectively. Conclusively, lack of cancer awareness and lack of education in general, are the most potent barriers to access and care about cervical cancer (CC), and should be addressed through multi-faceted strategies including peer-education, mass media and other community-based interventions. Therefore, the burden of CC can be reduced if women are educated and health care providers challenged to recommend CCS and HPV vaccination.