Sociodemographic and gynaecological factors that influence uptake of cervical cancer screening. A cross-sectional study in Calabar, Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Voluntary screening for cervical cancer has not been very effective in sub-Saharan Africa. Awareness and presence of risk factors may drive the need to screen. OBJECTIVE: To characterise sociodemographic and gynaecological factors as promoters of screening uptake. METHODOLOGY: The setting was a women health rally in Calabar, Nigeria with women from different towns/ villages in Cross River State. An interviewer-administered questionnaire assessed sociodemographic and gynaecological risk factors for cervical cancer, previous Pap smear, and acceptance to screen. Data inputted in EpiInfo 7, and GraphPad Prism 7.04 statistical software's, were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: One hundred and eighty (180) women gave consent for inclusion in the study. The age ranged from 21 to 65 with a mean of 39.8±10.3 years. With 52.22% of respondents accepting and 47.78% declining to screen, test of association showed that knowledge of cervical cancer, history of multiple sexual partners, and presence of offensive watery vaginal discharge significantly reduced the number of women who refused to screen. Previously screened women were not more likely to accept screening. CONCLUSION: Screening for cervical cancer was still poor. Cervical cancer knowledge and recognition of risk factors improve screening uptake.