3. Knowledge, Perception and Practice of Human Papillomavirus Testing for Cervical Cancer Screening among Females in a Religious Setting in a Southwestern City, Nigeria
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Abstract
Background: Cervical cancer remains a significant public health issue globally. With the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) being a primary cause and HPV testing an effective method for early detection and prevention of cervical cancer, testing has been reported to be generally low, especially among women in Faith-Based Organisations. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional descriptive design. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 200 respondents, and a pretested semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. The data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics with the aid of SPSS software version 30, and the results were presented in tables and charts. The level of knowledge was scaled with a score of 0-4 and >5 for poor and good, respectively, while the Likert scale was used to determine the respondents' perception level. The level of practice was also measured based on whether or not those had done HPV screening. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 47.99+11.3. The majority (52.5%) of the respondents were married; 79.5% had their first menstruation between the age range of 14 and 16, 76.5% had their first sexual intercourse between the age ranges of 20-25, and 55 % had their first marriage between the age ranges of 21-25 (55%). None have a personal history of cervical cancer. The knowledge level of the respondents on HPV testing was relatively low (33.5%); over half of the respondents had negative perceptions (56.5%) about HPV testing, while the majority (77.5%) equally had a poor practice level. Conclusion and Recommendation: With a low knowledge level, negative perception, and poor practice of HPV testing among the respondents, the study recommended a comprehensive community outreach among faith-based organisations to include health education and HPV tests for cervical cancer screening.