Does Spousal Engagement Improve Cervical Cancer Screening Discussions and Uptake? Lessons from a Before-After Study in a Rural Nigerian Community

• Published in: Journal of health care for the poor and underserved 2021-08, Vol.32 (3), p.1566-1583
• Main Authors: Okedo-Alex, Ijeoma Nkem, Akamike, Ifeyinwa Chizoba, Uneke, Chigozie Jesse
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cancer; Cervical cancer; Cervix; Childrens health; Community; Community involvement; Data analysis; Data collection; Developing countries; Disease prevention; Family planning; Health education; Health facilities; Health services; Husbands; Intervention; Interviews; LDCs; Maternal & child health; Medical screening; Men; Mixed methods research; Mortality; Population; Questionnaires; Reminders; Reproductive health; Rural areas; Social support; Uptake; Vaccines; Womens health
• ISSN: 1049-2089; 1548-6869; 1548-6869
• DOI: 10.1353/hpu.2021.0150

Background. This study determined spousal involvement and the effect of community-based spousal engagement on cervical cancer screening-related discussions and uptake in a rural Nigerian community. Methods. A before-after mixed methods study was conducted among 245 married men in a rural Nigerian community. Spousal engagement involved advocacy to men groups, awareness creation, and monthly meeting-based announcements/reminders about screening. Three months post-intervention, uptake was determined from facility registers. Thematic analysis and SPSS were used for data analysis. Results. A large minority of respondents were aged 29-39 years (95/245, 38.8%). At baseline, respondents generally had poor spousal involvement. Post-intervention, inter-spousal discussion on screening increased from 17.2% to 46.9% (p