Abstract

Uzoamaka Roseline Ajie, C.C.N. Vincent, Nkiru Okoroafor, Emmanuel Ifeanyi Obeagu*, Adanma Nwagwu Solomon, Anthonia Emesowum, Josephine Egbuchelem and Clementina Ezenwuba

ABSTRACT

This study ascertained cervical cancer incidence, knowledge, attitudes and barriers to Cervical Cancer screening in Egbema, Ohaji/Egbema L.G.A Imo State. The population of the study comprised 90,287 women in OhajiEbema LGA a sample size of 438 women was drawn (determined using taro Yamane formula). The instrument used for data collection is a questionnaire used to ascertain the knowledge, attitude and barriers to uptake of cervical cancer screening while a checklist was used to determine the risk factors of cervical cancer. The major findings are that out of 156 respondents who have taken up the cervical cancer screening test, 21.20% have positive test results; demographic variables of age, marital status and level of education significantly relate to the knowledge of cervical cancer among respondents in OhaajiEgbema LGA (p<.05); demographic variables of age and marital status do not significantly relate to the attitude of the respondents towards cervical cancer screening (p>.05). Significant relationships exist between incidence of cervical cancer and related risk factors (p<.05 and there is a significant relationship between uptake of cervical cancer screening and knowledge of cervical cancer among women in OhajiEgbema LGA of Imo State (p<.05). The researcher recommends among others that women of childbearing age embrace occasional cervical cancer screening.