Creating Awareness on Cervical Cancer via Radio Broadcasting in Ikenne Local Government

Abstract

The urgent need to combat the menace of cervical cancer cannot be divorced from the depressing estimated statistics of 9,659 annual deaths (an average of 26 deaths per day) among Nigerian women. Radio no doubt is one of the most suitable medium that can be engaged for the purpose of educating them, thereby ultimately eradicating the menace. This study attempted to find out if women with low level education in semi-urban areas are aware of the disease. Engaging the diffusion of innovation theory and the health belief model for intellectual strength, combined with the multi-stage sampling method under the survey method approach, 300 copies of the questionnaire were administered with 285 returned for analysis.  Research findings revealed that 94.4 % women of Ikenne local government have heard of cervical cancer although about a third (40.4%) are not aware. A statistics that portends colossal loss of lives in the future among women. The study recommends that a more aggressive and purpose driven radio messaging be done to create real awareness and promote knowledge of the cervical cancer disease among women in order to circumvent it.

Keywords: Radio, Cervical cancer, Awareness, Knowledge.