Predictors of knowledge of cervical cancer screening among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in Enugu, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: One per cent of women diagnosed with cervical cancer are pregnant or postpartum at the time of diagnosis. Therefore, awareness during pregnancy is of utmost significance. Objective: To determine predictors of knowledge of cervical cancer screening among pregnant women who attended antenatal clinics in Enugu, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: It was a descriptive cross-sectional study of 419 pregnant women who attended antenatal care at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu (139) and the Mother of Christ Specialist Hospital, Enugu (280). A multistage random sampling method was used to select the study centres and the participants. The questionnaires were administered by the interviewers and the data collected included sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge, and practice of cervical cancer screening. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23. Results: The mean age of the participants was 28.86 ± 5.69, Christians (92.7%), and married (82.5%). Most of the respondents (82.3%) heard about cervical cancer screening methods through their gynecologists and of the 198 respondents who have heard about cervical cancer screening, 151 (76.3%) knew about Pap smear. One hundred thirty-eight (69.7%) of the participants believe that screening for premalignant lesions of the cervix can be performed during pregnancy. Only 37.9% of the participants had ever done Pap’s smear in the past 3 years. Respondents with higher social status (Civil/Public servants) were 10 times more likely to know about cervical cancer screening than those with lower social status (Trader/farmer/artisan) (P = 0.027, OR = 9.957, 95% CI = 1.301 – 76.191). Conclusion: Higher social status is more predictive of knowledge of cervical cancer screening amongst pregnant women attending antenatal clinics. Gynaecologist disseminate the information on cervical cancer screening more and Pap’s smear remain the main screening modality known to pregnant women. Efforts should be made by other health workers and the media to disseminate appropriate information on screening modalities for the prevention of cervical cancer