Cervical cancer screening in Cotonou: what are the lessons learned?

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objectives: This study aimed to analyze epidemiological data and measure the level of knowledge of women about cervical cancer and screening in an urban context. Materials and methods: During a cervical cancer screening campaign carried out in Cotonou, Benin, 154 women were included. Sociodemographic data, gyneco-obstetric profile, knowledge of cervical cancer screening were noted. Results: Mean age was 32.17 years. Over 70% of women were screening for cervical cancer for the first time. Mean number of children was 2.34 ± 1.6. The majority (56.13%) did not use hormonal contraceptives. Mean age at first sexual intercourse was 19.03 years. More than half of the women (59.35%) had not had a gynecological consultation during the last 12 months. Only 44.16% of women knew at least one cause of cervical cancer, and among them, 41.55% of women identified STIs and 35.71% multiple partners as possible causes. For 74.02% of women, cervical cancer could not occur before puberty; 59.74% believed that a woman who has never had sex could have cervical cancer. More than 60% knew no signs of it. For those who knew at least one sign, the most cited was bleeding outside of menstruation (30.52%). The majority, nearly 92%, knew that there is a treatment for cervical cancer and 77.92% said it can be cured. More than half of the women, 52.26%, knew at least one prevention strategy and the most cited were screening and gynecological follow-up. For the majority of women (77.92%) screening should be done every year. The main barriers to carrying out screening were the lack of information (74.67%), the high cost (40.26%) and ignorance of the structures where screening can be carried out (32.46%). More than 16% of women and almost 15% respectively expressed fear of poor performance conditions and fear of pain related to screening. Conclusion: This study underlines the need to intensify awareness and information messages, and to multiply screening strategies, even in urban populations with women with a good socioeconomic level.