Knowledge, acceptance, and utilization of cervical cancer screening among women attending family planning clinics in primary healthcare centers in Abeokuta: A cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT Background: The high incidence of cervical carcinoma in developing countries has been directly linked to poor utilization of the available evidence-based screening services. This study assessed the knowledge, acceptance, and utilization of cervical cancer screening services among women in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This study utilized a cross-sectional descriptive design. A total of 273 eligible participants were randomly recruited from the family planning clinics of six primary healthcare centers in Abeokuta, Ogun State but only 265 questionnaires were retrieved. Data were obtained with the aid of a self-developed questionnaire which was validated using a pilot test. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with the aid of IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 27. All ethical procedures were duly followed, and the study protocol was reviewed and approved by the hospital board ethics committee. Results: The largest proportion of the respondents were between 30 and 39 years with a mean age of 28.44 ± 12.1 years and were married. Up to 64.9% of the respondents demonstrated a moderate level of knowledge of the disease and screening services. More than half (61.9%) accepted to be screened, only 33.2% had been previously screened, but up to 72.7% were willing to be screened. There is an association between knowledge of cervical cancer and acceptance of cervical cancer screening services ( χ 2 = 14.29; P = 0.017) as well as between acceptance and utilization of cervical cancer screening services ( χ 2 = 65.52; P = < 0.001). Conclusion: Acceptance and knowledge of cervical cancer are associated with utilization of its screening. However, in this study, knowledge and uptake of cervical cancer screening are low.