HETEROSEXUAL BEHAVIOUR, AWARENESS AND PRACTICE OF CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING AMONG FEMALE STAFF AND STUDENTS IN A PRIVATE TERTIARY INSTITUTION IN SOUTH-SOUTH, NIGERIA

Background:Cervical cancer is preventable and curable if detected early enough through regular and timely screening programmes. Objective: To determine the heterosexual behaviour, awareness and practice of cervical cancer screening among female staff and students of a private tertiary institution in South-south Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study of 393 female respondents using semistructured, self-administered questionnaires designed for this study. Data was analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 17. Tests of statistical significance were carried out using chi square tests for proportions. A p value of < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: About forty six percent of respondents had penetrating sex before the age of 20years. Half of the respondents had sexual intercourse in the last one year but less than half of them have screened for cervical cancer. The awareness level about cervical cancer screening was high, (73.77%). The difference in the awareness level between students and staff of the institution was statistically significant (χ 2 = 7.38, p=0.0065, df=1). The practice of cervical cancer screening was also low (22.4%). There was a statistical significance between the ages of respondents and the practice of cervical cancer screening (χ2 = 132, p= 0.0000, df =4) and also marital status and practice (χ2 = 7.52, df=1, p=0.006). Conclusion The study shows that most of the sexually active respondents have one sexual partner. High awareness level of cervical cancer screening did not equate to high practice of the screening procedures.