Knowledge and attitude of general outpatient attendants in Nigeria to cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVES

This study sets out to determine: a. How much women in low socio-economic settings know about cancer and cervical cancer. b. Their source of information. c. Their general attitude to cervical cancer.

DESIGN

A cross sectional study.

SETTING

General outpatient (GOP) department of a tertiary hospital in Ibadan, Nigeria.

SUBJECTS

254 randomly selected women aged 20 to 65 years attending or visiting the GOP department in a University Teaching Hospital were studied.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Knowledge about cancer and cervical cancer as well as source of information.

RESULTS

The response rate was 100%. Of the respondents, 90% had heard of cancer at one time or the other while only 15% had heard of cervical cancer. The media (38%) and peers (36%) were the major sources of information on cancer. Fifty five percent, 53% and 61% had no knowledge while 40% and 23% had poor to moderate overall knowledge of cervical cancer.

CONCLUSION

Knowledge about cervical cancer is poor in these women, unlike findings in developed countries. There is need to educate our women on the early warning signs of cervical cancer as failure to recognise the early symptoms and signs contribute to the late presentation common in Nigeria.