Adopting innovative approaches to cervical cancer screening among women in developing countries: evidence from Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated the adoption of cervical cancer screening (CCS) among women in Ibadan, Nigeria. The relationship between knowledge and adoption of CCS; and relationship between perception (perceived barriers and perceived benefits) and adoption of CCS among the study population were examined. The data collected from 1,000 women were analysed using appropriate statistical and econometrics techniques. A low (12.3%) uptake of cervical cancer screening was reported, knowledge had no significant relationship with screening uptake; there was however a significant relationship between perceived barriers to screening (OR = 1.078, 95% C.I. = 1.007-1.153, p = 0.30) and screening uptake. It concluded that there is an abysmal poor level of knowledge and subsequent low uptake of cervical cancer screening among women in Ibadan, however there is a future intention to uptake the screening if the screening services are available close to them, at a reduced cost and when socio-cultural barriers are adequately addressed.