Awareness of cervical cancer, Papanicolaou's smear and its utilisation among female undergraduates in Ibadan
Ayinde, O.A.; Omigbodun, A.O.; Ilesanmi, A.O.
African Journal of Reproductive Health 8(3): 68-80
2004
ISSN/ISBN: 1118-4841 PMID: 17348326 Document Number: 265820
A survey was conducted among 421 undergraduates of the University of Ibadan using self-administered questionnaires probing into their risk factors for neoplastic cervical lesions, awareness of cervical cancer, Papanicolaou's smear and its utilisation. The percentage of sexually active respondents was 81.5%. Sexual exposure before the age of 20 years occurred in 51.7%. The mean age at sexual debut was 18.8 years while the modal age was 18 years. Fifty seven per cent had multiple sexual partners, but only 38.1% used condoms. Seventy one per cent were aware of cervical cancer, while only 33.5% were aware of Papanicolaou's smear. Awareness was found to be more among medical students and the married ones. On the other hand, only 8.3% of them had ever done a Papanicolaou's smear. There is a need to increase awareness and incorporate cervical screening into the pre-existing university health services. Also, logistic barriers to cervical screening need to be removed.