Cervical Cancer Knowledge and Screening Behaviors amongst Female Health Professionals in some Selected Health Facilities in the La Nkwantanang Madina Municipality in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana

Abstract

Within the first quarter of 2017, a study was conducted to assess cervical cancer knowledge and screening behaviors amongst female health professionals in some selected health facilities in the La Nkwantanang Madina municipality in the Greater Accra region of Ghana, through a cross-sectional study design which had both a quantitative and qualitative study components. It revealed that 35% of the female health professionals agreed that starting sexual intercourse at a tender age increases a woman’s likelihood of contracting cervical cancer. 87.57% of the respondents have never attended any seminar or training workshop on screening and treatment of cervical cancer and 37% of the respondents’ source of information on cervical cancer is training school. Approximately, 87% of female health professionals who enrolled in the study know the availability of the Pap smear screening. 52% of the respondents are of the opinion that Human Papilloma Virus vaccination is not gaining popularity in Ghana. Majority (83.53%) of the respondents have never screened for cervical cancer whiles 16% have of which 41% last time of screening is 3 to 4 years. According to some key persons, female health staff do not go for screening because of the fear of the unknown or positive result even though some health facilities have mechanism in place in relation to staff welfare regarding cervical cancer whiles other health facilities do not have. Female health staff should be updated on the knowledge and practice in relation to cervical cancer and also go for regular Pap smear at least once every 3 years. Municipal and facility heads should organize training workshops, seminars, and annual compulsory medical screening in relation to cervical cancer for all staff which should be a prerequisite for their promotion.