Determinants and Uptake of Cervical Cancer Screening Among Nigerian Women
1
Department of Community Medicine and Primary care, Federal Medical Center Abeokuta, Abeokuta, Nigeria
2
Department of Development Studies, School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Nigeria
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Cervical cancer is a major global health challenge but largely preventable through regular screening [1]. In Nigeria, women face significant barriers to accessing cervical cancer screening services [2]. There is a lack of studies providing comprehensive national data on cervical cancer screening uptake in Nigeria. This study assessed the uptake and determinants of cervical cancer screening among women eligible for screening in Nigeria, in order to offer valuable insights for strengthening interventions aimed at improving screening uptake.
METHODS:
We analyzed weighted data from 17,649 women aged 30–49 in the 2023–24 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), which is the first NDHS to present data on cervical cancer screening. Analyses accounted for survey design and were conducted in Stata version 18. Multivariable logistic regression identified determinants of cervical cancer screening.
RESULTS:
The study found that overall cervical cancer screening among Nigerian women was 5%: highest in the South West (10.8%) and lowest in the North East (3.3%). Higher odds of screening were observed among women aged 40–49 (AOR=1.51; 95% CI:1.24–1.83), women with higher education (AOR=2.37; 95% CI:1.58–3.57), women of the rich wealth quintile, women with health insurance (AOR=2.04; 95% CI:1.59–2.61), women who visited a health facility in the last 12 months (AOR=1.65; 95% CI:1.36–1.99), those who were exposed to mass media at least once a week, women who have ever been examined for breast cancer (AOR=4.22, 95% CI=2.7, 5.91), and women who were living with HIV (AOR=4.34, 95%CI=2.34, 8.05), Lower odds were seen among women with 3–4 children (AOR=0.75; 95% CI:0.59–0.95), women with ≥5 children (AOR=0.57; 95% CI:0.42–0.78), and those from North Central and South East zones.
CONCLUSIONS:
Cervical cancer screening uptake among Nigerian women remains very low. These findings underscore the urgent need to address structural, financial, and informational barriers through integrated, equitable, and scalable screening strategies.
Cervical cancer is a major global health challenge but largely preventable through regular screening [1]. In Nigeria, women face significant barriers to accessing cervical cancer screening services [2]. There is a lack of studies providing comprehensive national data on cervical cancer screening uptake in Nigeria. This study assessed the uptake and determinants of cervical cancer screening among women eligible for screening in Nigeria, in order to offer valuable insights for strengthening interventions aimed at improving screening uptake.
METHODS:
We analyzed weighted data from 17,649 women aged 30–49 in the 2023–24 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), which is the first NDHS to present data on cervical cancer screening. Analyses accounted for survey design and were conducted in Stata version 18. Multivariable logistic regression identified determinants of cervical cancer screening.
RESULTS:
The study found that overall cervical cancer screening among Nigerian women was 5%: highest in the South West (10.8%) and lowest in the North East (3.3%). Higher odds of screening were observed among women aged 40–49 (AOR=1.51; 95% CI:1.24–1.83), women with higher education (AOR=2.37; 95% CI:1.58–3.57), women of the rich wealth quintile, women with health insurance (AOR=2.04; 95% CI:1.59–2.61), women who visited a health facility in the last 12 months (AOR=1.65; 95% CI:1.36–1.99), those who were exposed to mass media at least once a week, women who have ever been examined for breast cancer (AOR=4.22, 95% CI=2.7, 5.91), and women who were living with HIV (AOR=4.34, 95%CI=2.34, 8.05), Lower odds were seen among women with 3–4 children (AOR=0.75; 95% CI:0.59–0.95), women with ≥5 children (AOR=0.57; 95% CI:0.42–0.78), and those from North Central and South East zones.
CONCLUSIONS:
Cervical cancer screening uptake among Nigerian women remains very low. These findings underscore the urgent need to address structural, financial, and informational barriers through integrated, equitable, and scalable screening strategies.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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