The need to incorporate routine cervical cancer counselling and screening in the management of women at the outpatient clinics in Nigeria.

Although cervical cancer is the commonest cause of cancer death in Nigeria, the use of cervical cancer screening is poor. This study aimed at determining the awareness and use of the available cervical cancer screening method (Pap smear) by women attending the outpatient clinics of a tertiary institution in Enugu, South-eastern Nigeria. Questionnaires were administered to 912 women from November 2005 to May 2006. A total of 550 (60.3%) respondents knew about cervical cancer but only 41.2% of them were aware of the Pap smear. Only 89 (9.0%) respondents had used the Pap smear. The majority (61.9%) of those who had not been screened despite knowledge of the Pap smear had no reason, while the remaining 112 (38.1%) felt they were not susceptible to cervical cancer. The use of the Pap smear among women attending the outpatient clinics in Enugu, Nigeria is very low. Routine cervical cancer counselling and screening with opt-out option should be offered to every eligible woman attending the outpatient clinics.