Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2014 Dec 24:7:31-9.
doi: 10.2147/IJWH.S71797. eCollection 2015.

Knowledge, practice, and barriers toward cervical cancer screening in Elmina, Southern Ghana

Nancy Innocentia Ebu  1 , Sylvia C Mupepi  2 , Mate Peter Siakwa  1 , Carolyn M Sampselle  3
Affiliations

Knowledge, practice, and barriers toward cervical cancer screening in Elmina, Southern Ghana

Nancy Innocentia Ebu et al. Int J Womens Health. .

Abstract

Aims: The aims of this study were: 1) to assess the level of knowledge of women about Pap smear tests, 2) to determine the practices of women regarding Pap smear tests, and 3) to determine the barriers to Pap smear tests in Elmina, Ghana.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 392 randomly selected sexually active females aged 10-74 years using structured interview questions. The Institutional Review Board of the University of Cape Coast gave ethical approval for the study and informed consent was obtained from participants. Data were analyzed with SPSS software (v19.0) using frequencies, chi-square test, and exploratory factor analysis.

Results: The results revealed that 68.4% had never heard about cervical cancer, 93.6% had no knowledge on the risk factors, nine (2.3%) reported multiple sexual partners and being sexually active as risk factors, and 92% did not know about the prevention and treatment of cervical cancer. The majority (97.7%) had never heard of the Pap smear test. Only three (0.8%) women out of 392 had had a Pap smear test. Reasons for seeking a Pap smear test included referral, fear of cervical cancer, and radio campaigns. A significant association was found between institutional and personal barriers and having a Pap smear test.

Conclusion: Comprehensive education on cervical cancer screening and removal of access barriers are critical in reducing risk associated with the disease and promoting women's health.

Keywords: awareness; cervical screening; community; developing countries; factors; women.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. World Health Organization . WHO Country Cooperation Strategy 2008–2011: Ghana. Brazzaville, Republic of Congo: WHO Regional Office for Africa; 2012. [Accessed October 21, 2014]. Available from: http://www.who.int/countryfocus/cooperation_strategy/ccs_gha_en.pdf.
    1. Ghana Health Service . Non-communicable Disease Control Programme: Strategies for Cervical Cancer Prevention in Ghana: Planning Meeting and Training of Health Staff for HPV Demo Vaccination in Ghana. Cape Coast, Ghana: Ghana Health Service; 2013.
    1. World Health Organization . WHO Guidance Note: Comprehensive Cervical Cancer Prevention and Control. A Healthier Future for Girls and Women. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2013. [Accessed October 21, 2014]. Available from: http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/78128/3/9789241505147_eng.pdf.
    1. Adanu RM. Cervical cancer knowledge and screening in Accra, Ghana. J Womens Health Gend Based Med. 2002;11(6):487–488. - PubMed
    1. Gaffikin L, Lauterbach M, Emerson M, Lewis R. Safety, Acceptability, and Feasibility of a Single Visit Approach to Cervical Cancer Prevention: Results from a Demonstration Project in Ghana. Baltimore, MA: JHPIEGO; 2004.