Male workers’ influence on partners uptake of pap smear screening in a teaching hospital in Nigeria.

Abstract

5606 Background: Cervical cancer remains a major global health issue still claiming the lives of African women despite the availability of screening facilities. Male involvement has paid off in enhancing uptake of contraception in Africa as reported by several empirical studies. It may be worthwhile in encouraging women uptake of the screening services. This formed the basis for this study. Methods: The study adopted a cross sectional descriptive survey that involved 350 respondents. Their involvement was assessed using a structured questionnaire with cronbach reliability coefficient of 0.78. The study was analyzed using SPSS version 16 by computing the frequency, means and standard deviations. Chi-square was employed to test the significance of associations at p < 0.05. Results: The results showed that all (n = 350) male medical staff of the hospital were aware about cervical cancer and pap smear screening test for premalignant lesions of the cervix compared to 90% and 77% observed in paramedics and non-medical groups respectively. At least, an episode of Pap smear screening test had been done by the partners of 52.4% of the medical staff; while only 30.2% and 13% of the partners of paramedics and non-medical workers respectively had undergone the test. Among those whose partners had participated in screening; 78.9% (n = 95) of the men initiated the screening. Eighty two percent (82%, n = 95) paid for their wives’ transportation while 78.9% (n = 95) have at least once followed their partners to the screening centre. Chi square result showed that men with higher level of education are likely to support their partners to participate in screening for cervical cancer (p < 0.005). There was no significant association between religion and male support for Pap smear uptake (p < 0.407). Conclusions: The study showed that the medical male workers were more involved in facilitating partners screening for cervical cancer. This may not be unconnected with their knowledge of the consequences of late identification of the disease. The study therefore concluded that knowledge of cervical cancer and its consequences by men will enhance their involvement in encouraging partners to utilize screening facilities.