Awareness and utilization of selected preventive reproductive health services among women of reproductive age group in a rural community in South-West Nigeria

Aim: Preventive reproductive health services have been identified as one of the strategies to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity. The objective of this study was to assess awareness and utilization of these services among rural women in southwestern Nigeria. Subject and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study utilizing one-stage cluster sampling was used to survey 494 women aged 15–49 years. Data were collected on socio-demographic characteristics, awareness and utilization of selected preventive reproductive health services. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square test at p = 0.05. Results: Age of respondents was 29.8 ± 8.2 years, 41.1 % had secondary education and about half (51.8 %) were traders. Majority (66.6 %) were aware of screening services for HIV with 26.1 and 11.7 % aware of breast self-examination (BSE) and clinical breast examination (CBE). Only 1.0 and 1.6 % of respondents were aware of visual inspection for acetic acid (VIA) and Pap smear for cervical cancer screening. Almost half of the respondents (46.8 %) had ever undergone HIV screening, while <1.0 % had obtained a VIA or Pap smear, 18.8 % had ever practiced BSE and 4.5 % CBE. A significantly higher proportion of those with tertiary education (20.9 %) were aware of CBE compared with secondary (12.3 %) and primary education (6.6 %; p = 0.005). Conclusion: Awareness and utilization of reproductive health services among this group particularly with regard to breast and cervical cancer screening were poor. Awareness of CBE increased with higher level of education. Greater public sensitization and health education are advocated. © 2016, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.