Studies have estimated that 528,000 cases of cervical cancer and 266,000 deaths occur yearly in developing countries due to poor uptake of cervical cancer screening test. An estimated 12,360 new cases are expected to be diagnosed while 4,020 are to die from cervical cancer. In developed countries, 34,000 new cases and 16,000 deaths occur yearly, making cervical cancer the most common cause of death among women1. In Nigeria, research has shown that the incidence of cervical cancer is 85% and that 11.2 per 100,000 of those diagnosed die from the disease.234

Cervical cancer screening tests reduce cervical cancer incidence, thereby helping to diagnose the disease at an early pre-cancerous stage. Cervical cancer responds favourably to secondary prevention measures when detected at an early stage. It is considered to be one of the most successfully treatable cancers among women. Studies have shown that 95% of cervical cancer deaths can be prevented by using early Papanicolau (pap) test screening and appropriate treatment. 5678 It is the Low uptake of cervical cancer screening test and poor follow-up treatment services that result in high mortality rates and poor survival outcomes among cervical cancer cases. However, researchers have attributed lack of knowledge of the benefits of cervical cancer screening tests to the poor uptake of the screening tests.9101112 This study investigated the extent to which women in the rural areas are aware of the need to undergo cervical cancer screening as well as the factors and conditions that influence uptake of the test.

Studies have revealed that a good number of women in developing countries including Nigeria experience premature deaths due to cervical cancer because they view cervical cancer screening as the cause of the severity of the illness. As a result, only about 5% of women in developing countries have used Pap smear, compared to more than 40% of women in developed countries. As such, cervical cancer screening uptake remains a major public health challenge and this has given rise to the high prevalence of cervical cancer in developing countries.13141516 Despite the fact that most governments in developing countries encourage increased uptake of cervical cancer screening by offering free services to women, yet most women do not accept cervical cancer screening. 789

The problem with cervical cancer screening in rural areas is the inability of women to understand the benefits of cervical cancer screening test. Studies have found some myths that increase low uptake of cervical screening exercises. Such myths include women believing that undergoing screening tests will result in several unfavourable health conditions including infections, infertility, abortions, sexual violence, marital instability, death and others.10111213 Researchers have argued that educating mothers on the importance of cervical screening and on ways of preventing cervical cancer will increase their awareness and also reduce the prevalence of cervical cancer. 14151617 Some researchers have further stressed that poor knowledge of the usefulness of cervical screening test constitutes the main cause of underutilization of cervical cancer screening services. They have suggested that health workers should health educate women on the benefits of cervical cancer screening by emphasizing ways of preventing cervical cancer. This will be a step towards encouraging women of childbearing age to go for cervical cancer screening. 1819202122Therefore, the aim of this study included to investigate the extent to which women in the rural areas are aware of the benefits of cervical cancer screening as well as to identify the factors and conditions that influence uptake of cervical cancer screening.

The study adopted a cross-sectional descriptive survey and concentrated on identifying the factors and conditions that influence cervical cancer screening uptake. The sample used for the study was 420 selected by simple random sampling after being statistically determined by Taro Yamane formula. Administered structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were analyzed using frequency distribution tables.

The above Table shows that the highest age range of the respondents 150 (35.7%) was 26-33 years. For the educational qualification of the respondents, the highest number 165 (29.3%) had secondary education while for their occupation, 180 (42.9%) were housewives. See Table 1 for details.

From Table 2, out of 270(64.3%) of the respondents who accepted that they have knowledge of cervical cancer screening test, only 135(32.1%) of them have ever presented themselves for cervical cancer screening test. See the Table for more details.

(Table 3) shows that the hospital provided the highest source of information on cervical cancer screening test to the respondents. See Table for details.

The findings on Table 4 showed that a good proportion of the respondents 225(53.6%) did not access cervical cancer screening test because they believed that the screening test is for the elderly women and not for the young women. See Table for details of the findings.

(Table 5) shows that majority of the respondents, 400(95.2%) have not had human papilloma virus vaccination.

The findings showed that the level of the rural women’s awareness of cervical cancer screening test was high 270(64.3%), yet only as low as 135(32.1%) presented themselves for screening test. Those who did not undergo screening test had several reasons for not using screening test. Among the reasons they had included: unaffordability of screening test, the view that screening test is meant only for the elderly, poor attitude of health workers, the fear of eroding their privacy, as well as that of the test causing other types of cancer. The fact that the women in the rural area feared that undergoing screening test would result to abortion, exacerbate cervical cancer and prevent conception showed that they lacked correct knowledge of the benefits of cervical cancer screening test for sexually active women. This underscores the need for health workers to health educate women on the benefits of cervical cancer screening during antenatal sessions. These findings agree with that of181921, where women in the rural areas were found to lack full knowledge of the benefits of cervical cancer screening test.

From this study, having good knowledge of cervical cancer screening test did not correspond with high uptake of the screening services. Women of reproductive ages believing that cervical cancer screening is not meant for them could mean that these class of women may be ignorant of how to prevent cervical cancer. It could also mean that such women may delay seeking intervention for any slight signs and symptoms of likely onset of cervical cancer. This shows that such women can only seek help at the advanced stages of any health condition. This poor health seeking behaviour can contribute to increase in the prevalence of cervical cancer. These findings collaborate with the survey of 1322 which examined knowledge of cervical cancer and screening practices.

The fact remains that despite the awareness of cervical cancer prevention by screening using a pap smear, uptake of screening services in the rural areas is still very low in Nigeria. The negative attitudes of women in the rural areas towards cervical cancer prevention and the view that the services are expensive and therefore, not necessary, could have contributed to the reason why some women did not take the vaccination against human Papilloma virus. In this respect, these women might have considered themselves not at risk of cervical cancer. This affirms the findings of 41318 in which they noted that among the factors that contributed to low uptake of cervical cancer screening were the women’s idea that they are not susceptible to cervical cancer as well as the poor understanding of cervical cancer screening procedures. Lack of knowledge of the risk factors of cervical cancer, the anxiety caused by receiving abnormal smear result, and the fear of being diagnosed with cervical cancer could further prevent women from using the screening test. This is confirmed by the respondents’ belief that cervical cancer screening is purposely meant for those who already have cervical cancer and not for others. As a result, some of them had no interest in undergoing screening test. This negative view needs to be vigorously addressed.

Based on the findings of the study, the respondents had good knowledge of cervical cancer screening test, yet only an insignificant number of them used the services as a result of some frivolous reasons. A good number of them felt that they are not susceptible and moreover that screening test is meant for women with serious health conditions. Therefore, there is need for health workers to health educate women in the rural areas on the usefulness of undergoing cervical cancer screening test. This will help to create awareness for cervical cancer screening among women in the rural areas thereby reduce the incidence. Reduction of incidence of cervical cancer will be a good step in increasing life expectancy of the average woman thereby contribute to the achievement of sustainable development goals 3 and 5 which advocate for good health and well-being as well as gender equality respectively. Therefore, government should encourage increased uptake of cervical cancer screening by making the services affordable and accessible. Government should also boost good community mobilization through vigorous campaigns for cervical cancer screening.