ABSTRACT
Background: Cervical cancer persists as a major reproductive health challenge in Nigeria with most cases presenting at advanced stage. Methods: This was an analytical cross-sectional survey of the factors associated with the knowledge; perceptions and practice of Pap smear screening amongst 238 women attending antenatal clinic at Central Hospital; Benin City; South-south Nigeria. Results: The median age of the respondents was 30 years (range = 18-49 years). The median parity was 1 (range = 0-5). Most of the respondents (49.2) had tertiary level of education closely followed by secondary level of education (42.2). Forty-five percent of the respondents were aware of cervical cancer and 22.3were aware of Pap smear screening. The sources were largely from the health personnel (32.1); journals/textbooks (26.4) and electronic media (26.4). Only 2.7of the respondents had ever had Pap smear screening done. The major determinants of utilization of Pap smear screening were knowledge of the test; non-availability of service delivery points; lack of spousal consent; fear that the test will detect cervical cancer and cost; with level of education strongly correlated with awareness of Pap smear screening. Awareness was shown on multiple logistic regression analysis as the only strong predictive factor for the practice of Pap smear screening. Conclusion :The knowledge and practice of Pap smear screening was poor; but the perception of the respondents was favorably excellent. We recommend reproductive health education programmes and advocacy activities; strengthening the existing opportunistic screening and establishing national guidelines for routine Pap smear screening