ACCEPTABILITY OF CERVICAL CANCER

This study investigated the knowledge and acceptability of cervical cancer screeningamongsecondary school teachers in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State. The studywasprompted by the increasing prevalence of cervical cancer and the crucial role teachers playaschannels of health information and behavior change in the community. Adescriptive cross-sectional survey design was adopted for the study. The population comprised all secondaryschool teachers in the area, and a sample of 150 respondents was selected using a simple randomsampling technique. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data, which were analyzedusing descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings from the study revealed that the majority of respondents demonstrated a highlevel ofknowledge of cervical cancer and its screening methods. This was attributed to their exposuretohealth information through educational institutions and their relatively high educational qualifications. However, despite the high level of knowledge, awareness did not always translateinto screening practice. Many respondents had never been screened due to factors suchas fearand anxiety, cultural and religious beliefs, misconceptions, cost of screening, and distancetohealth facilities. The study also found that educational attainment had a significant positiveinfluence on respondents’ knowledge and attitudes towards screening, indicating that highereducation improves health literacy, interpretation of health information, and informed decision-making. Furthermore, the study established that health education and awareness creation remainstrongdeterminants of screening acceptability. Media campaigns, school-based sensitization, andinclusion of cervical cancer education in teacher training curricula were identified as vital ix strategies to enhance knowledge and participation in screening programs. The study concludedthat while knowledge of cervical cancer among secondary school teachers in Ikpoba-Okhaiscommendable, the acceptability and utilization of screening services remain low. It thereforerecommended intensified health education interventions, culturally sensitive awarenesscampaigns, and improved access to affordable screening services to promote early detectionandreduce the burden of cervical cancer among women in Nigeria.