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Demographic Pattern of Cervical Cancer Patients Seen in a Radiotherapy Treatment Facility in Northern Nigeria

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Indian Journal of Gynecologic Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Cervical cancer is the commonest malignancy in females in Northern Nigeria (Oguntayo et al. in Ecancermedicalscience 5:219, 2011. doi:10.3332/ecancer.2011.219). It is therefore important to identify the demographic patterns of the population most frequently affected in order to direct any preventive or interventional activities appropriately.

Methods

Patients were recruited serially as they presented to the Radiotherapy department of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika, Zaria, to reach the calculated sample size. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences 20.0 and are presented here in tables and graphs.

Results

A total of 73 patients participated in the study, and filled questionnaires were used in the collation of data. Majority of the patients seen were still within the reproductive age group 40–49 years. The mean age at presentation was 51 years, and a modal age of 40 years. The minimum age at presentation was 26 years and maximum age was 76 years. 37% of respondents were Hausa, 4.1% Yoruba, 6.8% Ibo and 52% for others comprising Tiv, Idoma, Urhobo, Igala and other minor tribes. 74% of the respondents were married, 4.1% divorced and 21.9% widowed. 28% had only primary education, 26% had no form of education at all, 16.4% had Qur’anic education and only 11% had attained tertiary education level. Most of them were unemployed housewives (54.8%). More than half, 53.4% earned less than 200 naira a day.

Conclusion

Most patients are within the age bracket 40–49 years; they are mostly Hausa, married, housewives with minimal education and within the low socioeconomic class. This result points to a need to adopt a strategy of public education, enlightenment and screening programs that will capture the language barrier that exists as a result of poor education and the generally prevailing culture of being housewives which directly influences the health-seeking behavior of women in Northern Nigeria.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, P.M.B 06, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria

    Ismail Hadi Zubairu, Hadiza Enias Theyra & Tumba Nuhu

Authors
  1. Ismail Hadi Zubairu
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  2. Hadiza Enias Theyra
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  3. Tumba Nuhu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ismail Hadi Zubairu.

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Conflict of interest

We the authors of this original article declare that we have no potential of conflict of interest in the course of carrying out this research and we have not received any grants from any company or organizations.

Ethical Standards

No procedures were performed on the persons who participated in this study. A questionnaire was administered to collect the required data in strict compliance with international ethical standards, and that of the institution where the research was carried out.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Zubairu, I.H., Theyra, H.E. & Nuhu, T. Demographic Pattern of Cervical Cancer Patients Seen in a Radiotherapy Treatment Facility in Northern Nigeria. Indian J Gynecol Oncolog 15, 52 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40944-017-0141-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40944-017-0141-1

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