Acceptance and barriers to cervical cancer screening among mothers in a state-capital city: a descriptive cross-sectional study.

Background: Cervical cancer is a reproductive malignancy that may be detected in its pre-invasive stage by regular cytological screening.

Objective: This study assessed the acceptance of cervical cancer screening among mothers attending infant welfare clinics in hospitals in Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed, with questionnaires administered to 355 respondents, selected using Fisher's formula. A multistage sampling technique was used to ensure a representative sample. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Relationships between variables were tested using chi-square and Fisher's exact tests at a 5% significance level.

Result: Approximately half (46.9%) had adequate knowledge of cervical cancer and its screening. More than half (55.7%) had low susceptibility to cervical cancer. About two-thirds (61.6%) were willing to undergo cervical cancer screening while only a quarter (25.9%) had undergone the screening test. Barriers to cervical cancer screening include lack of awareness, fear, perceived immunity, cost, pain and embarrassment while motivators include integration with general health screenings and perceived necessity. Findings suggest there is a statistically significant association between mothers' age, marital status, ethnicity, knowledge of cervical cancer, susceptibility to cervical cancer and cervical cancer screening acceptability.

Conclusion: Acceptance of screening was high which was significantly influenced by their degree of knowledge and susceptibility to cervical cancer. However, screening acceptance was not consistent with their low uptake.

Implications for practice: There is a need for continuous education and policies to minimise costs and ensure accessibility to the screening test to promote and improve its uptake thus reducing morbidities and mortalities associated with the disease.