KNOWLEDGE, PERCEPTION AND PRACTICES TOWARDS CERVICAL CANCER PREVENTION AMONG FEMALE SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS IN IBADAN NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, OYO STATE

Abstract

Cervical cancer is a major public health challenge among women in developing countries and the second most common gynecologic cancer. Poor practices towards cervical cancer prevention have been shown to contribute to this challenge. Although teachers are respected role models and opinion leaders who can play pivotal roles in facilitating vaccination, screening and other preventive practices at community level there is a dearth of information on secondary school teachers’ cervical cancer prevention knowledge and practices. Therefore, this study assessed the knowledge, perception and cervical cancer prevention practices among female public secondary school teachers in Ibadan North Local Government Area, Oyo State. A descriptive cross-sectional study design used. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 374 respondents from the 42 public secondary schools in Ibadan North Local Government Area (IBNLGA). A semi-structured self-administered questionnaire containing 46-point knowledge scale, 18-point perception scale and 15-point practice scale was used to collect data. Knowledge scores of 0‐≤14, >14–≤29, >29–≤46 were classified as poor, fair and good respectively; scores of 0–≤8 and >8–≤18 were categorized as negative and positive perception respectively and scores of 0–≤7 and >7–≤15 were graded as poor and good practice. Data was sorted, coded and analyzed using descriptive statistics at p≤0.05 level of significance. Respondents' mean age was 42.3±9.2 with more than one-third (38.2%) between 41 – 50 years old. Majority (85.8%) has heard about cervical cancer with the social media (24.0%) being the most common source of information. Slightly above half (54.0%) of respondents correctly identified sexually transmitted infections, sexual intercourse at the age of 16 or less (47.6%), and females having multiple sexual partners (68.4%) as risk factors. The mean knowledge score of cervical cancer and its prevention was 2.1±0.7 with majority (49.2%) having fair knowledge. The mean perception score was 1.86±0.34. Most (90.1%) of the respondents never heard of HPV vaccination while (78.9%) of the respondents never had Pap smear. The mean prevention of cervical cancer practice score was 6.9±2.5 with slightly above half (54.5%) graded as poor... This study shows that female public secondary school teachers in Ibadan North LGA had poor knowledge about cervical cancer and low cervical cancer prevention practices. A comprehensive approach including training on cervical cancer and prevention practices inclusive of vaccination and screening for female secondary school teachers is recommended.