Evaluation of Awareness of Susceptibility to Human Papilloma Virus and Cervical Cancer Screening among Nurses at University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria

Aim of the Study: The study aimed at evaluation of awareness of Susceptibility to Human Papilloma Virus and Cervical Cancer Screening among Nurses at University of Benin Teaching Hospital.

Research Design: Cross sectional descriptive survey design was used for the study.

Study Place: The place of study is University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria.

Duration of Study: Data was collected within four weeks in December 2016.

Method of Data Collection: A validated self-structured questionnaire was utilised for data collection. A total of 281 nurses who worked in UBTH were recruited for the study. The study setting was purposively selected due the cervical cancer mortality observed among nurses in recent time. The level of significance was put at 0.05.

Findings: The results showed that 62 (24.2%) and 153 (59.8%) of the nurses are aware of susceptibility to Human papilloma Virus and cervical cancer and its prevention, respectively. However, 116 (45.3%) exhibited a negative attitude towards the proven screening modality. Those who demonstrated negative attitude towards pap smears utilisation were less likely to utilise it. This was found to be statistically significant (chi-square = 14.899, df = 1, p value = 0.000.

Conclusion: Besides, nurses with university education exhibited positive attitude towards pap smear test more than their counterparts who had diploma education in nursing/midwifery. Similarly, older nurses exhibited a positive attitude more than the younger counterparts.

Recommendation: Intervention programmes that would focus on change of attitude of the nurses towards utilisation of cervical cancer screening were recommended. Further study on the utilisation of cervical cancer screening by these nurses were also was also recommended.