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. 2010 Jun;44(2):59-63.
doi: 10.4314/gmj.v44i2.68885.

Clinic visits and cervical cancer screening in accra

R M K Adanu  1 , J D Seffah, R Duda, R Darko, A Hill, John Anarfi
Affiliations

Clinic visits and cervical cancer screening in accra

R M K Adanu et al. Ghana Med J. 2010 Jun.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the factors that increase the chances of a woman in Accra having a Pap smear and whether women who have recently visited clinics have higher chances of having had Pap smears.

Design: A cross-sectional study

Methods: A representative sample of women in Accra, Ghana was interviewed and the clinical and demographic factors influencing cervical cancer screening was assessed.

Results: Out of 1193 women with complete data, only 25 (2.1%) had ever had a Pap smear performed though 171 (14.3%) had their last outpatient clinic visit for either a gynaecological consultation or a regular check up. Simple logistic regression showed that a high educational level, high socioeconomic status and a history over the past month of postmenopausal or intermenstrual bleeding significantly increased the odds of ever having a pap smear. Neither monthly income nor last clinic visit for a gynaecological consultation or regular check up increased the odds of having a pap smear. Multiple logistic regression showed that a high educational level and experiencing postmenopausal or intermenstrual bleeding were the most important determinants of ever having a Pap smear.

Conclusion: While we wait for a national program for cervical cancer screening, there is a need for clinicians to put more individual effort into ensuring that asymptomatic women are screened for cervical cancer.

Keywords: Accra; Ghana; Pap smear; cervical cancer; cervical cancer screening.

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