Awareness and Acceptance of Cervical Cancer Screening in Pregnancy among Antenatal Clinic Attendees in a Tertiary Hospital in Northwest Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Background: Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women in many developing countries. The lack of effective screening programmes remains a major challenge in these countries. Routine cervical cancer screening in pregnancy is a documented viable option to reduce the burden, as a good number of women access antenatal care. This study sought to determine the awareness and acceptance of cervical cancer screening in pregnancy among antenatal clinic attendees in a tertiary hospital in northwestern Nigeria. Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive study among 200 consecutive women attending the antenatal clinic of a tertiary hospital in northwestern Nigeria over a three-month period. Data was collected using a pretested structured self-administered or interviewer-administered questionnaire and analysed using SPSS version 25.0. Results: The majority of the women were aged between 30 – 34 years with a mean age of 29.85 ± 5.56 years. A total of 71.5% of respondents were aware of cervical cancer, however, only 51.5% were aware of cervical cancer screening tests. Only 14.5% of respondents knew that Pap smear could be done in pregnancy and only 9.5% had ever done a Pap smear. Up to 67.5% of the respondents were willing to accept a free Pap smear in the index pregnancy. Concerns of the safety of the test in pregnancy were the reason given by most of the respondents who were not willing to accept a Pap smear in the index pregnancy. Conclusion: The awareness of cervical cancer screening in pregnancy among pregnant women was low despite the high awareness of cervical cancer. The willingness to accept cervical cancer screening in pregnancy was high; thus, free routine cervical cancer screening in pregnancy could reduce cervical cancer prevalence in developing countries.