Abstract:

Introduction: Cervical cancer is a significant cause of morbidity/mortality and continues to top the rank as an important public health issue affecting women of child-bearing age (especially women in low resource countries). Therefore, this study was aimed at describing the awareness, perceptions and utilization of cervical screening services among women of child-bearing age In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) - Nigeria.

Methods: A cross sectional survey was administered to 360 women of child-bearing age attending antenatal clinics in six selected hospitals in the FCT. They were selected using a proportionate non –random sampling technique.

Results: Giving the response rate of 80.3%, n= 289, α=0.05, CI = 95%, findings revealed that about 55% of respondents were aware of cervical screening services. Over 50% had negative perceptions about cervical screening services and a great majority (63.4%) had not utilized any cervical screening service. Several factors were identified as influencing the utilization of cervical screening services. There was no significant relationship between levels of education, age, marital status and the utilization of cervical screening services at α=0.05, CI = 95%, as indicated by P – values of 0.681, 0.631 and 0.535 respectively.

Conclusion: Awareness of cervical screening services is good, but perceptions about the services are negative and utilization of services is very poor among women of child-bearing age in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria.

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