Original Research Article
Year: 2019 | Month: November | Volume: 9 | Issue: 11 | Pages: 131-136
Awareness of Cervical Cancer Screening Among Female University Students in Nigeria and Sudan: A Comparative Study
Samira Musa1,2,3, Amel AllaGabou4, Muhammad A. Musa3,5
1School of Medicine, Ahfad University for Women Sudan;
2Federal Medical Center, Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, Nigeria;
3Youth Friendly Health Initiative, Nigeria;
4Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ahfad University for Women Sudan;
5Department of Anatomy, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Nigeria.
Corresponding Author: Samira Musa
ABSTRACT
Background: Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of deaths in women worldwide. In western countries, the incidence of and mortality associated with cervical cancer has reduced substantially following the introduction of effective cervical screening programmes. This is in contrast to what is obtainable in developing countries such as Nigeria and Sudan where cervical cancer screening is rudimentary or nonexistent. Aim: This study seeks to determine the knowledge and attitude of female students towards cervical cancer screening in Nigeria and Sudan.
Methods: A total of 240 questionnaires were distributed to study participants based in two tertiary institutions of learning (Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto [UDUS], Nigeria and Ahfad University for Women [AUW], Sudan). The questions were designed to capture the objectives of the study.
Results: A total of 83.3% of the questionnaires were duly completed and returned with minimum age of respondents being 15 year old. Overall, 77% of respondents (35.5% in UDUS and 41.5% in AUW) have heard about cervical cancer, while only 53% of the respondents (22% in UDUS and 31% in AUW) were aware of cervical cancer screening Nigeria and Sudan respectively. There is a statistically significant association between age group and knowledge of cervical cancer amongst the respondents in both UDUS (x2 =26.642a, P=0.0001) and AUW (x2=10.566a, P=0.005).
Conclusion: The study shows that awareness of cervical cancer screening was low amongst study participants compared to their awareness and knowledge about cervical cancer. There was an association between age group, marital status and knowledge of cervical cancer screening amongst respondents. Overall, a greater proportion of the respondents had little or no knowledge of cervical cancer screening. Therefore, there is need for increase advocacy and awareness about cervical cancer and its screening among females in Nigeria and Sudan.
Key words: Knowledge, attitude, cervical cancer, screening, Nigeria, Sudan.