UICC World Cancer Congress 2006

Methods:The study was in two parts- i. Utilization of a questionnaire to assess the demographic data, awareness of cancer of the cervix, knowledge, awareness and utilization of cervical cytology screening. The women were asymtommatic women within the age range 25-65 years. They were randomly selected from major established hospitals and clinics within the local government councils in Ibadan, Nigeria. ii. Utilization of a questionnaire among informed health workers to determine the factors for high prevalence of cervical cancer in Nigeria

Results:Eighty five percent of the studied population demonstrated very poor knowledge and a negative attitude to the utilization of cervical cytology service. This is associated with strong cultural and religious reasons and the non availability or at best poor information about cervical cytology screening. The non existence of a national cervical cytology screening ,the lack of political-will and funding. Poor advocacy and poor manpower were identified as the cause of the continous high prevalence of this preventable cancer in Nigeria.