KNOWLEDGE ON THE EFFECT OF CERVICAL CANCER IN WOMEN IN CHILD BEARING AGE IN LAPAI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF NIGER STATE

CHAPTER ONE

1.0   INTRODUCTION

1.1   BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Cervical cancer (CC) is the world's second most prevalent malignancy among females, and the most frequent in poor countries (WHO, 2014). Human Papillomavirus (HPV), that can be spread sexually and avoided like any other sexually transmitted disease has been associated to cervical cancer (STIs) (Bekkers et al., 2016; Adanu et al., 2010). Cervical cancer accounts for about 12% of all malignancies in women worldwide, with 80% of cases occurring in underdeveloped nations (WHO, 2014). In Sub-Saharan Africa, such as Nigeria, about 35 cases reported of cervical cancer are detected per 100,000 women each year, with nearly 24 women dying from the illness (Bray et al., 2013).

According to Masood (2010) Cervical cancer is one of the most prevalent diseases among young women worldwide, especially those of reproductive age in poor and underdeveloped nations, and the second leading cause of cancer among Nigerian women (Gorollet al., 2010). According to Pisaniet al., (2010), In Nigeria, 36.59 million women aged 16 are at risk of having cervical cancer, with a disease occurrence of 250 per 100,000 women. The overall health of female of child bearing age is an important socioeconomic factor in any nation's progress. As a result, examining their knowledge and awareness of cervical cancer will be extremely beneficial in terms of disease care and prevention. According to Walboomerset al., (2010)  have noted that human papillomavirus disease is one of the risk variables for cervical cancer, that also accounts for up to 90percent of total of invasive cervical cancer and is linked to 80percent of pre-cancerous modifications in the cervix worldwide, and is caused directly by infection with HPV-16 and 18 strains, trying to make it the only human cancer with a recognized causative agent (Munoz et al., 2013; Anorlu., 2018; Walboomerset al., 2010). Annually, it is predicted that 14,550 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, with 9,659 dying as a result of the disease. Nigeria is expected to have 22,914 new cervical cases of cancer and 15,251 cervical die from the disease by 2025 (WHO, 2010). Cervical cancer was projected to have a nationwide age-standardized incidence rate of 33.0 cases per 100,000 women annually Nigeria (WHO, 2010).

Regardless of the fact that cervical cancer is avoidable and treated, many women are unaware of the route of contact, symptoms, and prevention methods. Three-quarters of cervical cancer patients are discovered at an advanced stage, leaving them with slim chances of long-term survival and cure. This is due to a lack of a national algorithm for screening cervical cancer, an insufficient infrastructure, poorly trained health personnel, a difficulty to access health early, a lack of information about risk variables, and a high estimated economic burden of screening, level of educatopn among others. As a result, a large public health burden is guaranteed, as the resulting loss of lives is unnecessary due to the fact that it is preventable and treatable (WHO, 2016). Cervical cancer prevention and control is presently recognized as the most successful technique, with the goal of lowering the disease's prevalence and death (WHO, 2016). The base for building successful preventive measures is awareness and understanding of cervical cancer. Premature sexual exposure, bleeding during sexual intercourse, several sex partners, smoking, and immunological suppression are all risk factors for ovarian cancer (Hendricks, 2013). Although the mean age of patients is 50 years, the condition can affect women as young as age 18 who are reach sexual maturity, with the largest risk group at 25-49 years old (WHO, 2016). Most women are unaware of modern screenings and treatment and prevention strategies, with research showing that nearly no women are aware of Human papillomavirus (cervical cancer screening, or teenage immunization for future preventing disease (Lenselinket al., 2018). This study will assist establish the level of cervical cancer preventive understanding and information among childbearing women. The outcomes of this study are intended to contribute to increased awareness and understanding, as well as recommend relevant interventions to nurture good early health assessment habits among females and urge vaccinate their girls against ovarian cancer at a young age. Therefore the study centers on Knowledge on the Effect of Cervical Cancer in Women in Child Bearing Age in Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Despite a slew of health promotion strategies, health warnings, physician's advice, and petitions, some females tend to disregard the empirical proof of cervical cancer's dangers, according to the study. Women's understanding about cervical cancer screening for early diagnosis appears to be influenced by their area. It appears that they continue to overlook the presence and likelihood of cervical cancer in women. Women in remote areas appear to have a lack of knowledge about cervical cancer screening clinics and also what they comprise. Despite being aware of the health hazards associated with cervical cancer, a huge number of women seem to disregard cervical cancer screening as a precautionary measure (Mutyaba et al, 2013). Failure to recognize the condition early appears to have resulted in mortality in many cases, which is higher than fatalities from other disorders. Cervical cancer is on the rise, according to all signs, but with early diagnosis through screening, the illness will not take as many lives (Ogundipe & Obinna, 2018). Due to their views, women's religion appears to prevent them from getting a cervical screening. Some Nigerian women appear to have cervical cancer at a late stages of the disease, where little or no treatment is available. Nigeria leads the twenty areas affected by cervical cancer in the world, followed by Eritrea, the Congo, South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Kenya. The top five countries are India, China, Indonesia, and Brazil, with Nigeria coming in fifth (Africa Health,WHO/ICO, 2010). During pregnancy, women in underdeveloped nations appear to use reproductive health care more frequently. They have used reproductive health services for post-natal check-ups, access to contraception, and a variety of gynecological issues. Because a large percentage of women with invasive cervical cancer are in their fertile age, childbearing becomes an ideal time for screening, particularly for women who do not have regular gynecologic examinations. It is critical to ensure that the intended group has a high level of cervical cancer screening awareness, as multiple studies show that nations with coordinated screening programs have lower incidence rates (Nygard, et al., 2016). In this study area, investigators saw several cases of women of reproductive age who were identified with cervical cancer, with the majority of them dying from the disease. According to latest projections, 9922 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year, with 8030 dying from the illness. Approximately 24.8 percent of women in rural community are expected to have cervical Human papillomavirus infection at any given moment (Adewole, 2018). Although some studies may have tackled some connected concerns of cervical cancer and mortality in other parts of the globe, no research had conducted any cervical cancer research on Knowledge on the Effect of Cervical Cancer in Women in Childbearing Age in Niger State's Lapai Local Government Area. Therefore the study centers on Effect of Cervical Cancer in Women in Childbearing Age in Niger State's Lapai Local Government Area.