Cervical cancer awareness and risk factors among women residing in an urban slum in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Poor awareness of cervical cancer and high prevalence of its risk factors may be responsible for the large burdenof cervical cancer in low-income countries. This study assessed awareness of cervical cancer and prevalence of risk factorsamong women residing in a slum in Lagos, Nigeria. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out amongst 305 women of reproductive age (15-49 years) inIdi-Araba, a slum in Urban Lagos. Data were collected using interviewer administered questionnaires. Analysis was done withSPSS 20 software. Results: Mean age of respondents was 33.5(9.0) years. Only 12.8% of the respondents had heard of cervical cancer. Ninety-fivepercent of respondents were sexually active and 56.2% had more than one lifetime sexual partner. Close to half (47.3%) ofrespondents had their first sexual intercourse before the age of 20. One in five (22.2%) had 5 or more children. Half of therespondents (54.8%) had had abnormal vaginal discharge. Conclusion: Awareness of cervical cancer among the women was poor and prevalence of risk factors of cervical cancer washigh. Campaigns aimed at increasing awareness of cervical cancer, and screening should be carried out by governmental andcharitable organizations for women residing in slums. Keywords: Cervical cancer; awareness; risk factors; slum; Nigeria.