INFLUENCE OF CERVICAL CANCER CAMPAIGNS ON THE KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND BEHAVIOUR OF WOMEN OF SOUTH-EAST NIGERIA

Abstract

Cervical cancer is one of the commonest cancer among women globally . It is the leading cause of cancer among women and kills almost on daily basis. Annually, about 14,550 are diagnosed with cervical cancer and many of them die of the disease. Studies revealed that it is due to late detection/diagnosis, poor knowledge of cancer, its preventive measures and screening techniques. Consequently, campaign managers have resorted to aggressive awareness and sensitization programmes aimed at increasing knowledge, changing attitudes and enhancing the practice of all necessary screening procedure; since success is highly dependent on the influence of these campaigns to increase knowledge; change unhealthy attitudes towards cervical cancer prevention, treatment and enhance practice of screening methods. Accordingly, this research examined the influence of cervical cancer campaigns on the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) among women in South-East Nigeria. Using survey, the researcher employed convergent mixed method design. From the population of 8,210,604, a sample size of 413 was drawn using online sample size calculator advanced by Wimmer and Dominick, 2013. Evidence from the research shows that majority of women in the South-East are not exposed to cervical cancer campaigns and awareness level of the disease never changed their negative attitude on the disease. This led to poor practice among women in South-East Nigeria. It was suggested that government, as a matter of policy should create health-related (Public Health) course and incorporate same in the academic curricular of primary, post-primary and tertiary schools, so that life-threatening health issues can be inculcated into the students. It was also suggested that the government should embark on aggressive cervical cancer campaigns so as to ensure that the right information get to the needy vulnerable audience as timely as possible.

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