UICC World Cancer Congress 2006

Objective: Cervical cancer is the commonest genital cancer in women in Nigeria and in some regions of the country it is the commonest cancer among women.In many developed countrience general practitioners have contributed immensely to the fall in the incidence of cervical cancer.We determined screening practices among general practitionersin Lagos.

Methods: Between 1st June 2004 and 31st August 2004 we studied the screening practices of general practitioners in two urban and two rural local government areas of Lagos state using self administered questionnaires.

Results: Of the 540 doctors surveyed, data was complete in 503 (93.1%). 60(11.9%) ever informed their patients about cervical cancer screening. Female doctors were more likely to counsel their patients than their male counterparts (Chi square =4.74, p =0.0011971). 89(17.8%) of the respondents had facilities for Pap smear but only 27(5.4%) did screen their patients. Only 6 of 27 (22.2%) did routine cervical cancer screening and 21(77.8%) did selective screening. Therefore only 6 (1.2%) of the 503 did routine screening. Selective screening were for postmenopausal bleeding (55.6%), postcoital bleeding (59.8%), vaginal discharge (18.5%), history of sexually transmitted infections(11.1%), family planning (44.4%) and during post visit (51.8%) In the management of women with post coital or post menopausal bleeding only 9.3% of the 503, will perform a speculum examination , 23.3% will do a Pap and 43.2% will refer to gynaecologists. Screening services were more available in the urban local government areas than in the rural local government areas (X2 =60.5820, P =0.0000).