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.
Background: The menstrual practices of adolescents derive largely from health issues associated with their adjustment to reproductive life. The objective of the study was to assess the effect of pre-menarcheal training on the menstrual and hygiene practices of Nigerian school girls. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey of randomly selected post-menarcheal school girls using a pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire was done. Results: The mean age of the school girls was 14.9 ± 1.7 years. Pre-menarcheal training was given to 273 (55.2%) of them. Mothers (74.7%) were the more common source of information. Inappropriate experience of menarche, adverse effect of menstruation on schooling and social life and the use of unhygienic menstrual absorbents were common in girls who had no pre-menarcheal training than those who did. Conclusion: Lack of timely information results in inappropriate menstrual experiences and poor menstrual hygiene practices. Ways to promote menstrual education and hygiene practices are suggested.
Hypertension remains the most rapidly rising cardiovascular disease in Africa. This study was designed to evaluate the perception, knowledge and practices of Nigerian hypertensive patients regarding hypertension and lifestyle modification measures. Consecutive hypertensive patients attending the cardiac clinics of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria, were recruited. A pre-tested structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Questions were categorised to elicit patients' demographic characteristics, knowledge, perception and practice of various lifestyle-modification measures. chi(2) tests were performed. More than half (54.2%) of the 260 respondents had no formal, or just primary, education. About 25% were no longer taking their antihypertensive medication. Fifty per cent of the patients thought that hypertension was caused by stress. Most knew about the lifestyle measures through health personnel. More than 50% adopted the lifestyle-modification measures once they became aware of their effects. This study has shown a poor level of perception of hypertension and awareness of the lifestyle-modification measures through the mass media, but a high level of willingness to adopt the lifestyle measures. Concerted strategies are required to change the perception of hypertension and increase the awareness of the lifestyle-modification measures in this part of the world.
Cervical cancer screening enhances early detection which reduces morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study is to assess awareness and practice of cervical cancer screening amongst female students in a Nigerian university. A cross-sectional survey of 394 students was done. About 23.1% identified the Pap smear as a screening test. Only 5.2% of respondents had ever been screened and 52.8% reported willingness to be screened. The major reason for unwillingness to get a Pap smear was absence of symptoms (31.7%). There is a critical need to improve cervical cancer screening participation amongst female undergraduate students in Nigeria.
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