Abstract

Cervical cancer still remains a high socio-economic, health challanges in the developing world. To acheive a significant decrease in the incidence of cervical cancer related morbidity and mortality: women should have adequate knowledge and awareness of the disease and screening. The aim of the study is to promotion the benefits of early detection by public awareness and knowledge of the diseases and factors; influencing the utilisation of the screening among non health and health workers in Rivers State and Bayelsa State, Nigeria A cross sectional study using questionnaires were used for data collection. The mean age of the female non health workers was 29+ 9.2 and 29±9.9 years for the health workers. The respondents demonstrated high awareness on cervical cancer 415 (80.9%) where x 2 = 25.366; p = 0.000; df =1 and cervical cancer screening 382 (74.5%) where x 2 = 26.371; p = 0.00; df = 1. Mass media was the main source of information in the non-health workers group 115 (56.1%) while majority 202 (96.2%) of the health workers got there information from Doctors and fellow health workers. Surprisingly; 232(60.7%) are of the opinion that, cervical cancer screening is necessary for every sexually active woman. Despite that; only 71 (18.6%) of the respondents have had cervical cancer screening. Finally this reflects the general overview of the nature and degree of health information in the society. As it shows that even though the knowledge is acceptable on the disease, the awareness of the screening and uptake is very low.