PERCEPTION AND ACCEPTABILITY OF INTEGRATION OF CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING INTO ANTENATAL AND POSTNATAL SERVICES IN A TERTIARY HOSPITAL IN NIGERIA.

Background: Cervical cancer is preventable, but women in developing countries present in advanced stages of the disease, thus resulting in limited treatment options and high mortality rates. Routine maternal healthcare during pregnancy or puerperium presents a unique opportunity for its prevention, counselling and screening.

Aim: To assess the acceptability and perception of integration of cervical cancer screening into routine antenatal (ANC) and postnatal care (PNC) services among pregnant and postpartum women.

Methodology: This was a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study conducted among 220 consenting women among the ANC and PNC attendees at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. Information on socio-demographic characteristics, perception of routine screening in maternal health, acceptability; and the willingness to undergo screening test were obtained. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 26 and level of significance was p<0.05.

Results: Majority were in the age range of 30-34 years. Only 11.4% and 4.5% of the participants had ever done a pap smear and HPV test respectively. About half (50.9%) of the women reported that they would not be willing to undergo screening during pregnancy with the commonest reason being fear of harm to the pregnancy. Over half (64.1%) of the participants were willing to have screening during the post-natal visit, while 58.6% of the participants wanted the screening to be part of the routine services offered at the ANC or PNC. Majority (69.5%) were willing to continue screening outside of pregnancy.

Conclusion: The practice of routine cervical cancer screening is low among women in developing countries. The ANC or PNC provides an opportunity for screening, early detection and prevention of cervical cancer.