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FACTORS INFLUENCING FEMALE UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS’ ACCEPTANCE OF CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING IN SOUTH-WEST NIGERIA

There is a general recognition of lack of practice, knowledge and acceptance of importance of cervical cancer screening
among young women. This has resulted in late diagnosis of cervical cancer and a resultant poor prognosis. The aim of
this study is to assess the level of acceptance and determine the factors influencing the acceptance of cervical cancer
screening among female undergraduate students in a selected University in Lagos, Nigeria. This study adopted a
descriptive design and a multistage sampling technique. A self-administered questionnaire was used to elicit information
from 228 students with a response rate of 99.13%, data was analysed using the SPSS statistic version 20. This study
observed that more than half (70.2%, n=228) of the respondents were between ages 20-24yrs. A good number (31.6%,
n=228) were in 300 level. Almost all (93%, n=228) were single and well above half (63.2%, n=228) were Yorubas.
More than three-quatre (89.9%, n=228) were Christians and well above half (57.0%, n=228) began menarche from
age 9-12 years. The study reveals that the level of acceptability of cervical cancer screening among the respondents is
average. Further findings shows that accessibility of Screening Center, affordability of vaccines and screening services,
lack of funds, health workers attitude, worry about privacy and feeling of embarrassment about the procedure were the
major factors influencing the acceptance of cervical cancer screening and the major risk factors of cervical cancer are
Human Papilloma virus infection, multiple sexual partners, early onset of sexual activity and family history and smoking.
The tested hypothesis shows that the age and level of study have significant association with acceptance of cervical
cancer screening with P = 0.000 and 0.014 respectively. It is therefore recommended that the nurses should, in
conjunction with the government and the ministry of health and ministry of education, create awareness programmes
on the importance of cervical cancer screening among undergraduate students at all levels.

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