ARTICLE SUMMARY
| Title: | Women's Knowledge, Current Behaviour and Utilisation of Cervical Cancer Screening and Treatment Services in Rivers State |
| Author(s): | Lawretta Adaobi ONYEKWERE |
| Abstract: | The study investigates women's knowledge, their current behaviour and utilization of available cervical cancer screening and treatment services in Rivers State. The study used Rational Choice theory as the basis of its theoretical underpinning. Survey research design and qualitative research method were adopted in the study. The method of data collection was Focus Group Discussion (FGD). The participants for the FGD were women aged 15-49 years across different ethnic groups in the state with their unique socioeconomic backgrounds. One hundred and twenty (120) women participated in the focus group discussion in 12 different rural and urban communities. They were, randomly selected from the six (6) LGAs for the study.The results showed that women of reproductive age are yet to voluntarily seek and utilize cancer screening and treatment services due to poor knowledge and awareness about cervical cancer, even the few urban women who seemed to be aware are yet to translate the awareness to service uptake. Various reasons were given such as the inability to pay for service, paucity of service points, poor/low knowledge and awareness, religious influence, etc. Majority of the women stated that enlightening and giving them the opportunity to be screen and treated first would be their major motivating factor. Additionally, they suggested that availability of free services, sensitizing their husbands for consent and financial support and the use of female health workers for the screening would be other motivating factors.The study therefore recommended a well-designed context specific and detailed cervical cancer education for rural/urban women within the state that will bring to their understanding the need to embrace the programme offered to them for it health benefits. |
| Keywords: | women's knowledge, current behaviour, cancer screening and treatment services, women of reproductive |