treatable and preventable forms of cancer, as long as it is detected early and managed effectively. This study

aimed to determine the knowledge of cervical cancer among females at the Limbe Regional Hospital with respect

to its cause, prevention, presentation, treatment, and barriers to routine cervical cancer screening.

convenient sampling technique. Data were collected through the administration of an interviewer administered

questionnaire, designed using Epi Info version 7.2.5.0. The questionnaire evaluated knowledge about the cause,

prevention, presentation, and treatment of cervical cancer. Descriptive statistics were used to present the

frequencies and percentages for categorical variables.

services are needed to enhance the fight against cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer is a malignant tumour characterized by abnormal growth of cells that affects the terminal portion

of the uterus, known as the cervix. Being one of the five most common cancers worldwide (breast, cervical, liver,

non-hodgkin lymphoma and prostate cancer). It has an incidence and mortality of 24 and 19 per 100,000 females

in Cameroon per year [1-2]. This high incidence and mortality is due to the high prevalence of Human

papillomavirus infections [3] which is observed in 99.7% of cervical cancer’s incidence [4-5]. Prolonged

infection with the Human papilloma virus is usually associated with risk factors such as sexually transmitted

females below-average level of awareness concerning this cancer. Hence the aim of this study being to assess

the knowledge females have relative to cervical cancer and its possible modes of prevention, as this will provide

a firm stand and enable adequate measure to be taken into action such as mass education to ensure the cancer is

consistent mass education will boost the level of awareness females possess for cervical cancer and how it is

prevented. Once it is achieved every female will take necessary measure to avoid cervical cancer, thereby

guaranteeing its eradication. Despite the revolutionary progress made in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention

of cervical cancer over the years, its mortality and morbidity are still on the rise [10-11]. This is evident with

cervical cancer being classified as the fourth leading cause of oncological death after breast cancer in females

[12]. Thus, a need for assessing the knowledge of cervical cancer, its cause, prevention, presentation, treatment

A hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out in Limbe Regional Hospital (LRH), South West Region

of Cameroon, from March to June 2020. This Limbe Health District (LHD) is made up of eight health areas

which include: Bota, Mabeta, Idenau, Bojongo, Sea port, Moliwe, Batoke and Zone Ⅱ. The LHD is located

between Mount Cameroon to the North and the Atlantic Ocean to the South.

This study used a convenient sampling technique to recruit a total of 238 females aged 19-65 years attending the

Regional Hospital Limbe. The sample size was calculated using the Cochran’s formula.

and benefits of contributing to the study, and written consent was signed by study participants who volunteered

to take part in the study.

Data were collected using structured questionnaires built using epi info (Version 7.2.5.0). The questionnaire was

pretested to ensure validity and reliability, then used to collect data. It was made of five sections, organized

The data collected from participants were coded accordingly, and the questionnaire was double-checked for

proper filling, missing values were coded as missing. The data was entered into Microsoft excels 2016 for

cleaning, and imported to the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 26) and analyzed.

Descriptive statistics was utilized to present the frequencies and percentages for categorical variables.

the women had been screened for cervical cancer and a majority, 20(37.7%) frequently mentioned screening

method was Pap smear (Table 1).

Majority, 189(79.4%) of the women had heard about cervical cancer with almost half [98(51.9%)] of them

correctly citing that the human papillomavirus was the cause of the cancer. A good number, 86(45.5%) of the

participants also knew that cervical cancer was not sexually transmitted (Table 2).

Majority, 140(74.1%) of these women knew that cervical cancer could be prevented using adequate methods

with half [96(50.8%)] of them citing vaccination as an adequate preventive strategy. Most, 107(56.6%) of the

participants also knew that cervical cancer could be prevented through education of women. Performing regular

as a treatment method for cervical cancer. (Table 4).

Figure 1, presents the predisposing factors of cervical cancer reported by the participants. The most reported risk

factors for cervical cancer among the women were, having sex with multiple sexual partners (27.4%). A number

(14.3.%) of the participants also cited STDs as a risk for cervical cancer.

A number 87(36.4%) of the women knew abnormal vaginal bleeding as a sign and symptom of cervical cancer.

Abnormal pains were also thought of as a sign and symptom by 32(13.6%) of participants. Pains during sexual

intercourse was mentioned by 11% of participants as a sign and symptom of the disease (Figure 2).

Figure 4 shows the different reasons why women fail to show up in the hospital for routine cervical cancer

checkups. A Majority 89(37.6% 95% CI: 29.6%-46.1%) of the women were reluctant to present for routine

cervical cancer checkups without any specific reason.79 (33.3%, 95% CI: 25.6%-41.8%) were not aware of the

routine cervico-vaginal smear.

The most reported barrier to the cervical cancer screening was the lack of proper education on the procedure

95(39.9%), Lack of money 46(19.3%), uncomfortable process 45(18.9%), invasion of privacy 44(18.5%) and

negative attitudes of health personnel 36(15.1%) were among the frequently reported reasons for failing to

perform routine checkups for cervical cancer (Table 5).

Factors associated with knowledge on cervical cancer

The chi square analysis didn’t show any significant association with knowledge on cervical cancer (Table 6)

Figure 1. Knowledge on the risk factors of cervical cancer

Marital Status

from the current study at Limbe Regional Hospital in South-West Region of Cameroon show that 34.5% (82 out

of 238) of female participants had good knowledge on cervical cancer. This low knowledge was consistent with

the wider sub-Saharan Africa where cervical cancer continues to pose great public health challenge because of

lack of awareness and knowledge. For example, in a qualitative research conducted in Dschang, West Cameroon,

lack of general knowledge on cervical cancer among women and men alike was a major barrier to screening

[14]. A study conducted in Kumbo West Health District (KWHD) in Cameroon indicated an even higher cervical

cancer screening uptake compared to the national level however also low knowledge about risk factors and

found among women in other LMICs such as in Tanzania [15] and Ghana [16] The Limbe study’s prevalence of

reported by 39.9% (95 women) of the participants. Some other hurdles noted were lack of money (19.3%),

discomfort with the screening process (18.9%), invasions of privacy (18.5%), and negative attitudes from health

personnel (15.1%). These findings go in tandem with literature about barriers to cervical cancer screening in

Cameroon and other sub-Saharan African countries, which have time and again underscored the multiple

challenges at the individual, community, and structural levels. low screening participation can be explained by

the Health Belief Model because the perceived barriers (e.g., cost and embarrassment) are higher than the

perceived benefits and risk of cervical cancer in participants with poor knowledge. In Dschang, a study found

that low health education is a major reason why women aren't getting screened for cervical cancer. Many of them

don’t know what the symptoms are or why early detection is important, so they don’t seek out screening [14]. A

review on cervical cancer screening in sub-Saharan Africa pointed out that a lack of knowledge about cancer

more people got screened. This shows that lowering costs could help get more people involved [20]. The findings

from Limbe highlight that even in local hospitals, money problems are still a major issue, which suggests we

need policies that provide subsidized or free screening programs. In Limbe, the challenges are much clearer

when you compare it to wealthier countries. For instance, a study in Australia found that many immigrant women

struggled with not knowing enough about health risks, but free screening programs helped them get access to

care [21]. On the other hand, Cameroon doesn’t have a national screening program, and not many people are

screened to help wipe out cervical cancer, but in Cameroon, only about 19.6% of women are currently getting

screened [19]. The discomfort some people feel about the screening process (18.9%) and worries about privacy

(18.5%) show how cultural and personal views play a role in sub-Saharan Africa. In a study done in Limbe about

self-sampling acceptance, women, especially those with HIV, were worried about privacy when it came to