Determinants of Uptake of Pap Smear Screening among Postnatal Women: A Multi-center Cross-Sectional Study in Benin City

Abstract

Objective: To determine the knowledge, uptake and uptake barriers to Pap smear in Postnatal women in Benin City.

Method: A cross-sectional analytical multi-centre study was conducted among postnatal women in Benin City, Nigeria. Data was collected by interviewer-administered questionnaire method. Data analysis was done using chi-square analysis and Logistic regression and a p-value < 0.05 was considered significant.

Result: There were 522 respondents with a mean age group of 28.87 ± 7.0. Only 47.7% were aware of the pap smear. Among the respondents who were aware of pap smears, only 25.7% had done it in the past with 1.6% having abnormal results. About 49.8% recommend a pap smear to be done at 6 weeks postpartum. The level of education of respondents (OR: 0.253, 95% CI: 0.080–0.796, p=0.019) was a predictor of knowledge as those with primary level of education were less likely to know about pap smears. Uptake was higher amongst the aged 40 and above and married women which were statistically significant (0.002 and 0.048 respectively). The reason for refusal was mainly inadequate information (67.6%). Others are cultural beliefs (11.9%), religious beliefs (10.3%), fear of bleeding (4.3%), fear of infections (4.3%) and lack of funds (1.6%).

Conclusion: This study showed low uptake of pap smear among the respondents largely due to lack of information. We recommend pap smears be integrated into antenatal health education and reinforced at the postnatal clinic to improve public awareness and acceptance as an approach to reducing cervical cancer burden.