INCIDENCE, SCREENING AND PATTERN OF CERVICAL CANCER AMONG WOMEN ATTENDING UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIAN TEACHING HOSPITAL, ITUKU- OZALLA (2000-2005)

Abstract

The main purpose of the study was to find out the socio-demographic pattern of the incidence, screening and pattern of cervical cancer among women in University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla from 2000-2005. The study adopted the descriptive research design utilizing the expost facto design The Population for study consisted of all the records of cervical cancer cases in UNTH, from 2000-2005 which were 82 cases. The instrument for data collection was researcher designed Cervical Cancer Inventory Proforma (CCIP). Frequencies and percentages were used to answer the research questions while the chi-square statistic was used to test all the hypotheses. The findings revealed that the highest incidence of cervical cancer was recorded in 2004 (30.5%) and this occurred among women aged 61years and above (35.4%), cervical cancer was also found to be more among married women (75.6%) and rural dwellers (56.1%). Majority of the women (75.6%) had never gone for cervical screening. Based on these findings, it was recommended that government should provide cancer screening equipment in most of the health facilities to increase access and health education on cancer should be intensified.