Analysis of Interventions for Improving Cervical-Cancer Screening Uptake among Nigerian Women

Abstract

Cervical-cancer is preventable through early detection of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia that heralds the disease via cervical-cancer screening, yet its mortality is still high especially in developing countries. In Nigeria, researchers have attributed the high cervical-cancer mortality to low uptake of cervical-cancer screening predicated on wrong perception and low knowledge of cervical-cancer and cervical-cancer screening; lack of cervical-cancer screening programme; inadequate community support for cervical-cancer screening and gap in screening skills among health-workers where opportunistic cervical-cancer screening exists. This study aims to identify context-specific interventions for improving cervical-cancer screening uptake and reducing cervical-cancer burden in Nigeria. Secondary data was used for the study.Literature were obtained from Global Health, Popline and PubMed databases; WHO and other relevant websites using Eldis search engine; and from libraries in the University of Leeds and WHO in Geneva. Interventions for improving cervical-cancer screening uptake were analyzed using a set of appraisal criteria which include; technical and cost effectiveness, organizational, gender, cultural and political feasibility to determine their applicability and transferability in Nigeria. Broad interventions identified are; intervention aimed at correcting perception, improving knowledge and increasing access to cervical-cancer screening. Reducing the burden and impact of cervical-cancer in Nigeria will depend on implementation of these interventions by stakeholders.

Knowledge of cervical cancer screening among women in Farin Tanki Area Argungu, Kebbi State, Nigeria

“…In developed countries, the widespread use of cervical screening programmes has reduced the incidence of invasive cervical cancer by 50% or more. Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable of all cancers through primary and secondary prevention, prophylactic Human Papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination and cervical screening [10] . Increasing women's knowledge of cervical cancer and preventive health-seeking behaviour can have a great impact on cervical cancer incidence and mortality [11] .…”