Knowledge attitudes and practices of cervical cancer screening among urban and rural Nigerian women: a call for education and mass screening

The incidence of cervical cancer has declined in developed nations due to routine use of cervical cancer screening services. In developing nations opportunistic screening is the practice, and many women present with late-stage disease. This study was designed to ascertain the knowledge of the women in Nigeria to cervical cancer, their practice of cervical cancer screening and factors hindering the use of available screening services. A cross-sectional study was done with interviewer-administered questionnaire. Only the consenting women attending an annual Christian religious meeting in 2007 in three towns in Enugu, South Eastern Nigeria participated. Only 15.5% of the respondents were aware of availability of cervical cancer screening services. The awareness significantly varied with the level of educational attainment (P < 0.0001). Only 4.2% had ever done Pap smear test and all were referred for screening. The most important factors hindering the use of available cervical cancer screening services were lack of knowledge (49.8%) and the feeling that they had no medical problems (32.0%). There is very poor knowledge and practice of cervical cancer screening among Nigerian women. Effective female education and free mass screening are necessary for any successful cervical cancer screening programme in Nigeria.