Knowledge And Acceptability Of Cervical Cancer Screening Among Female Part-time Students In University Of Benin

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Center for Disease Control (CDC) in University of Benin Teaching Hospital has recorded low utilization of cervical cancer screening service since the inception of the programme; therefore it is important that a study be conducted to determine the knowledge and acceptability of cervical cancer screening in its catchment area. For many years studies on cervical cancer related issues have focused on knowledge, attitude and practice towards cervical cancer. There are little evidence studies done on knowledge and acceptability of cervical cancer screening in University of Benin Community.

In view of this gap in studies done on cervical cancer, it is important that the researcher conducts a study to determine the knowledge and acceptability of cervical cancer screening among Female Part- Time Students in University of Benin. It is envisaged that the findings from this study will be used by the health care team to increase strategies on increasing knowledge and awareness on cervical cancer screening to women. Findings will also be used in planning and designing training manuals and guidelines and formulating deliberate policies in training nurses, doctors and other health personnel involved in the fight against cervical cancer. It has also been found appropriate to carry out this study because the results will be used to influence women's behavior and practice towards cervical cancer screening in a positive way. Furthermore, the study results will form a basis for further research on cervical cancer screening.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What is the level of cervical cancer awareness among the respondents?

2. What is the level of acceptability of cervical cancer screening?

3. What are the barriers to cervical cancer screening?

HYPOTHESIS

There is no relationship between knowledge of cervical cancer and acceptability of cervical cancer screening.

LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

1 The study was conducted within a short period of time which made it impossible for the researcher to conduct the research on a bigger scale.

2 There was limited published literature on knowledge of cervical cancer and cervical cancer screening in Nigeria, as a result much of the literature review was from other countries

SCOPE OF STUDY

Research setting is the physical location and conditions in which data collection takes place in the study, (Polit & Beck, 2008). The research setting can be seen as the physical, social, and cultural site in which the researcher conducts the study (Bhattacharya, 2008).The area of study is the University of Benin, Benin City, Edo state. University of Benin, Benin City, is geographically located at Ugbowo Community, in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State. University of Benin is situated on 1,748 hectares of land along Benin – Lagos Highway. It shares a main boundary with University of Benin Teaching Hospital and Isiohor community. University was founded in the year 1970; her motto is “knowledge for service”. It is made up of 10 faculties namely; Agriculture Arts, Education, Engineering, Law, Life Science, Management Science, Pharmacy, Physical Science, Social science and School of Basic Sciences, College of Medicine and Dentistry. 

CONCEPTUAL DEFINITIONS OF TERMS

 Cervical cancer: Cervical cancer is a cancer of the cervix or neck of the uterus (Altaian & Sarg, 2006).

Screening: Screening is a test used to try and detect a disease when there is little or no evidence that a person has a disease (Berkow & Beer, 2007).

Pap smear: Pap smear is the cytological gynecologic test that examines the structure, function, pathology and chemistry of the cell (Black & Hawks, 2005)

Knowledge: Information, understanding, or skill that you get from experience or education. Awareness of something: the state of being aware of something (Merriam _ Webster Dictionary).

Acceptability: Acceptability is a state of welcoming something or acknowledging something (Geddes and Crosset, 2006).

OPERATIONAL DEFINITION TERMS

Knowledge: In this study knowledge means a woman who was able to define cervical cancer, state risk factors, signs and symptoms and mentioned services available for detection and prevention of cervical cancer.

Acceptability: In this study acceptability means a woman who was able to acknowledge the importance of screening for cervical cancer, had the intensions of going for cervical cancer screening and had accessed the screening service.

Cervical cancer: In this study, cervical cancer means a growth or a sore on the cervix or uterus.