Factors Influencing Uptake of Cervical Screening among Reproductive Aged Women in Iworoko-Ekiti, Ekiti State (Published)
This study assessed the factors influencing the uptake of cervical screening among women of reproductive age in Iworoko, Ekiti State, Nigeria. Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected from women attending family planning, antenatal, and child welfare clinics at the Comprehensive Health Centre, Iworoko. A systematic random sampling technique was employed to select 225 participants, of whom 206 completed a structured, self-administered questionnaire. The instrument assessed socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of cervical screening, cultural beliefs, healthcare accessibility, and perceived facilitators of screening uptake. Data were analysed using SPSS version 27 with descriptive statistics. Findings revealed that awareness of cervical screening was generally low despite moderate understanding of screening methods and the importance of early detection. Cultural factors, including perceptions of pain and embarrassment, and the influence of family, community, and religion, significantly shaped screening behaviour. Structural barriers such as cost, limited availability of female screeners, inconvenient clinic schedules, and long waiting times further hindered utilisation. Hypothesis testing showed no significant association between knowledge of cervical screening and uptake, indicating that awareness alone does not translate into action. However, a significant association existed between perceived facilitators and screening uptake. Health education, free or subsidised services, community-based outreach, and encouragement from family members and religious leaders emerged as strong motivators. The study concludes that improving cervical screening uptake requires culturally sensitive, socially grounded, and structurally enabling interventions that address both community norms and health system constraints.
Keywords: Cultural Beliefs, cervical cancer screening, healthcare accessibility, screening uptake, women of reproductive age