SOCIAL FACTORS INFLUENCING CERVICAL CANCER SCREENINGUPTAKE AMONG REPRODUCTIVE AGE WOMEN IN KWARA SOUTHSENATORIAL DISTRICT

Abstract

Cervical cancer remains a major public health issue, particularly in low and middle-income countries where access to preventive health services is limited. This studyinvestigated whether stigmatisation, fear of embarrassment, and poor attitude ofhealth workers would be social factors influencing cervical cancer screening uptakeamong reproductive age women in Kwara South Senatorial District. The study employed adescriptive research design of survey type. The population of this study comprised 400,291reproductive-age women residing in Kwara South Senatorial District, with a targetpopulation of 30,587 reproductive-age women. A multi-stage sampling procedure was usedto select 305 participants. A researcher-designed, validated questionnaire, which wastested for reliability through the split-half method with a coefficient of 0.82, was used. Thedata obtained was analysed with percentages and the Chi-Square Goodness of Fit test. Thefindings of the study were that stigmatisation (ᵪ2 = 117.43, p=0.00<0.05), fear ofembarrassment (ᵪ2 = 133.92, p=0.00<0.05), and poor attitude of health workers (ᵪ2 =142.31, p=0.00<0.05) are significant social factors influencing cervical cancer screeninguptake among reproductive age women in Kwara South Senatorial District. The findingssuggest that interventions aimed at improving screening uptake must address bothcommunity-level perceptions and healthcare system practices. Public health campaignsshould focus on destigmatising cervical screening through education and awareness, whilehealthcare institutions must prioritise training providers to adopt respectful, supportive,and empathetic attitudes.