The development of a community-based model for promotion of cervical cancer prevention for Yoruba women in Ibadan Nigeria

Abstract

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide. The global disparities in cervical cancer incidence and mortality between wealthy and poor countries are likely related to lack of prevention and detection efforts. There is an exponential increase in cervical cancer deaths in Ibadan. Literature suggests that the increase of cervical cancer deaths is most likely a result of a lack of awareness and knowledge of cervical cancer, lack of outreach programmes and the unavailability of prevention services at community level. Community-based interventions have been identified as being most suitable for the promotion of cervical cancer prevention among women of low socio-economic status, a group that forms the greater part of Nigeria's population. The aim of this research study was to develop a community-based model for preventing cervical cancer in Yoruba women in Ibadan, Nigeria. A multi-method research approach, using both quantitative and qualitative methodologies was used. This study was conducted in 3 phases. Phase 1 was a descriptive survey during which data was collected using a multistage technique to select 480 community members to explore their knowledge, practice, beliefs and attitudes towards cervical cancer. Data collection was by means of a semistructured interviewer administered questionnaire (community members), yielding a response rate of 95% (n= 452). Phase 2 was an exploratory, descriptive design during which data was collected from twenty (20) health workers and four (4) policy makers to explore the barriers to cervical cancer prevention services and ways to promote cervical cancer prevention services using semi-structured interview (health workers), and key informant interviews (policy makers). Quantitative data collected was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics such as Chi-square and correlation to test the significance of association between variables.