Adult Education Strategies for Creating Awareness on Cervical Cancer in Anambra State

ADULT EDUCATION STRATEGIES FOR CREATING AWARENESS ON CERVICAL CANCER IN ANAMBRA STATE

Uche J. Obidiegwu Dept. of Adult and Continuing Education, Fac. of Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. Phone:07035958009; e-mail: [email protected] & Obiageli C. Chukwuemerie Dept. of Adult and Continuing Education, Fac. of Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. Phone: 08037728499; e-mail: [email protected]

ABSTRACT Cervical cancer is a deadly disease that has caused havoc in families by reducing the life span of women due to late detection and lack of awareness of the disease. This paper on adult education strategies for creating awareness on cervical cancer was guided by a research question and hypothesis. The study was conducted in Anambra State of Nigeria. The population of the study was 8487 staff of tertiary institutions in the state. A structured questionnaire designed by the researchers was used to elicit data from a sample size of 382 selected using Taro Yamen’s formula. Mean statistics was used to analyze the research question while t-testwas used to test the hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. The ten listed strategies were accepted by the respondents. Among them are incorporating cervical cancer enlightenment campaigns as part of activities of various institutions’ staff welfare programmes; organizing and dedicating at least a day in every month for road walk and exercise in various neighbourhoods in urban and rural areas. During such walk, few minutes can be dedicated to education on ways of preventing prevalent diseases such as cervical cancer; including mobile cervical cancer education and screening programmes in annual general meeting such as ‘August Meeting’ for women. Implications of the study were discussed. It was recommended among others that adult educators and community development workers in every community should liaise with the traditional rulers and town union executives to initiate the inclusion of health awareness programmes in key festivals and other social functions in their communities. It

UNIJERPS Unizik Journal of Educational Research and Policy Studies Vol.4; https://unijerps.org January-June, 2021 258

Keywords: Adult education, strategies, cervical cancer, awareness, women

Introduction Cancers attack physical health and from cervical cancer. Based on seriously affect the general well-being of ICO/IARC 2018 estimate, every year individuals and larger society. Cervical 14,943 women are diagnosed with cancer is a high-burden global health cervical cancer and 10403 die from the issue which has the greatest incidence disease. Cervical cancer ranks second and mortality rates in the Sub-Saharan among cancers that kill Nigerian women Africa due to implementation barriers between 15 and 44 years of age. The and resource limitations (Johnson, centre also revealed that about 3.5% of Armstrong & Joyce et al. (2018). It is a women in the general population are disease in which malignant cells form in estimated to harbor cervical cancer the cervix (National Cancer Institute, HPV-16/17 infection at a given time, 2015). Cervix is the lower, narrow and 66.9% of invasive cervical cancers portion of the uterus where it opens into are attributed to HPVs 16 or 18. the roof of the vagina. Available According to Okoye (as cited in statistics show that cervical cancer is Olayiwo, 2014), cervical cancer was among the major threats to women’s killing more people worldwide than lives. World Health Organization HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria put [WHO] (2020) disclosed that globally, together. Okoye asserted that 26 women cervical cancer is the fourth most die daily from cervical cancer in Nigeria. common cancer among women, with an Committee Encouraging Corporate estimated 570,000 new cases in 2018. Philanthropy [CECP] (2015) placed the Nearly 90% of the 311,000 deaths figure of women who die daily of worldwide in 2018 occurred in low and cervical cancer at 22. It is middle income countries. According to incontrovertible that the death toll from ICO/IARC information Centre on HPV cervical cancer in Nigeria is alarming. and Cancer (2019), Nigeria has a The researchers’ interest in this study population of 50.33 million women of stem from the need to ameliorate the ages 15 years and above who are at risk devastating multiplier effects that UNIJERPS Unizik Journal of Educational Research and Policy Studies Vol.4; https://unijerps.org January-June, 2021 259

UNIJERPS Unizik Journal of Educational Research and Policy Studies Vol.4; https://unijerps.org ACADEMICJOURNALS 2021 Impact Factor: 5.641; 2020 Impact Factor: 5.355. expand your knowledge January-June, 2021 http://www.academicjournals.org Indexing and Impact Factor URL: http://sjifactor.com/passport.php?id=21363 cervical cancer has on human life and subsequently named National through awareness and public Cancer Prevention Programme (NCPP) enlightenment strategies. when other types of cancers were Cervical cancer is mainly caused by included in their campaign. Other Non- a viral infection that is related to Human Governmental Organizations (NGOs) Papilloma Virus (HPV). HPV infection such as Marie Stopes International, increases risk of cancers of the penis, Breast without Spot (BWS) and Medical vagina, anus and oropharynx (National Women Association of Nigeria Cancer Institute, 2015). Almost all (MWAN) have organized programmes women who have had sexual relations, aimed to some extent at reducing the even without having had penetrative burden of cervical cancer. The sexual intercourse, can be infected with Onyebuchi Chris Ifediora (OCI) HPV and are therefore at risk of cervical foundation, a Nigerian-Australian cancer. CECP (2015) disclosed that 30% international organization, is currently of sexually active women have had HPV making waves with its novel health infection at one point or the other in their promotion initiative tagged ‘Arm Our lives. According to CECP, in most cases, Youths’ (AROY) being introduced the body’s immune system contends across senior secondary schools in with this virus and it phases out with Nigeria as a way of tackling breast and time in 9 out of 10 women infected. cervical cancer in Nigeria. Although Most women who died from cervical activities of NGOs have contributed in cancer were in the prime of their lives, enlightening the populace on cervical and these losses were made more tragic cancer, their impact are limited due to by the fact that cervical cancer is paucity of funds, personnel and other considered one of the most preventable resources among other logistics. and treatable forms of cancer as long as Recently Nigeria National Cancer it is detected early and treated effectively Control Plan 2018-2022 was launched (WHO, 2006). but up till 2020 HPV vaccination has not Efforts at a similitude of a national been introduced in the primary health cervical cancer programme were those care vaccination schedule. HPV vaccine made by charitable organizations such as is only available for rich people on Mass Medical Mission (MMM), which private arrangement. It is costly and later was known as National Cervical largely unavailable. The cost of Cancer Prevention Programme (NCCPP) treatment of cervical cancer is UNIJERPS Unizik Journal of Educational Research and Policy Studies Vol.4; https://unijerps.org January-June, 2021 260

UNIJERPS Unizik Journal of Educational Research and Policy Studies Vol.4; https://unijerps.org ACADEMICJOURNALS 2021 Impact Factor: 5.641; 2020 Impact Factor: 5.355. expand your knowledge January-June, 2021 http://www.academicjournals.org Indexing and Impact Factor URL: http://sjifactor.com/passport.php?id=21363 prohibitive. Creating awareness and 2012; Oche, Kaoje, Gana&Ango, 2013; educating the populace towards Okwara, 2016; Udigwe, 2006; prevention becomes the most viable Chukwuemerie, 2018). The individual’s option for Nigeria’s effort at prevention. consciousness of the fact that they or Observations from national events shows their loved ones are vulnerable can only that successive governments have not come through enlightenment and this is done much to prevent cervical cancer. what leads to taking health action. WHO Though NGOs have tried but they are (2013) underscored the utilization of few in this crusade and are not able to culturally specific communication meet the awareness needs of the campaigns and education efforts in populace. In the absence of political will fighting cervical cancer. In this regard, to tackle the problem, informing and the study attempted to determine some educating women and other family and Adult Education strategies for creating community members on the dangers of awareness on the dangers of cervical cervical cancer through research findings cancer. become very fundamental for prevention, treatment and cure of the Adult education encompasses formal, disease. informal and non-formal education. Every individual learns as long as they Creation of awareness is quite live through adult education processes imperative to the understanding of the regardless of age and previous education need for prevention of cervical cancer. (Nzeneri & Haliyu as cited in Nzeneri, Awareness is a prerequisite for health P. & Abe, 2013). The practices and action. Obidiegwu and Anurugwo methodologies of adult education are (2016) found that many rural women in culturally based. It propagates culture Nigeria did not seek for primary health and cultural practices through inclusive care services because they were not communication and analysis. Adult aware of the services. Many studies education lasts through entire life span. across the country show that women die It is dynamic. Adult education of cervical cancer because of ignorance encompasses multiplicity of programmes of its preventability, risk factors, and its programmes are designed symptoms, treatment options, according to the peculiar circumstances vaccination and screening services of a particular group of people in order (Balogun, Odukoya, Oyediran & Ujomu, to meet their peculiar needs (Obidiegwu, UNIJERPS Unizik Journal of Educational Research and Policy Studies Vol.4; https://unijerps.org January-June, 2021 261

UNIJERPS Unizik Journal of Educational Research and Policy Studies Vol.4; https://unijerps.org ACADEMICJOURNALS 2021 Impact Factor: 5.641; 2020 Impact Factor: 5.355. expand your knowledge January-June, 2021 http://www.academicjournals.org Indexing and Impact Factor URL: http://sjifactor.com/passport.php?id=21363 as cited in Obiozor & Obidiegwu, 2013). Awareness in Adult Education is more Adult education is meant to help adults than mere knowledge about a concept. It improve their skills, knowledge, attitude is a period of critical consciousness in and behaviours for their personal, family which a person is alert and ready to take and community well-being based on action against any impeding element. their local environment. Loss of lives as Freire in adult Literacy REFLECT a result of cervical cancer threatens Manual (2016) describes such awareness personal, family and community well- as conscientization which according to being. Clarion calls for public Freire is an act of informing, enlightenment by researchers and efforts enlightening and empowering people. It of other concerned groups such as NGOs uses participatory communication and towards the improvement of awareness analysis tools including dialogue, level of the threat, acceptability of conversation, talks and exchange of screening and vaccination to preserve views in a learning environment. Adult lives of women persist. However, these Education boasts of a variety of initiatives do not appear to have programmes for creating awareness and significantly brought the problem under they include mass awareness and perspective. There appears to be no enlightenment programmes, community significant increase in the level of mobilization programmes, counseling awareness and attitude to dangers of services, health education programmes, cervical cancer and its preventability. mass media campaign and civic Thus, the situation calls for conscious education programmes. The scope of application of the principles, theories Adult Education is as wide as life itself. and practice of adult education in the According to Obidiegwu (as cited in delivery of strategies for prevention of Obiozor & Obidiegwu, 2013), the field cervical cancer. Adult and non-formal of adult education cuts across all education strategies in this paper are disciplines and the purpose is to culturally based. They seem to be facilitate the learning of adults in all veritable tool to bring about sustainable contexts towards maturity. UNESCO (as attitudinal and behavioural changes that cited by Obidiegwu in Obiozor & will positively affect rate of intake of Obidiegwu, 2013) asserted that Adult vaccines, screening and other preventive Education activities are viewed as measures by women. forming part of life-long education and learning. It has no specific theoretical UNIJERPS Unizik Journal of Educational Research and Policy Studies Vol.4; https://unijerps.org January-June, 2021 262

UNIJERPS Unizik Journal of Educational Research and Policy Studies Vol.4; https://unijerps.org ACADEMICJOURNALS 2021 Impact Factor: 5.641; 2020 Impact Factor: 5.355. expand your knowledge January-June, 2021 http://www.academicjournals.org Indexing and Impact Factor URL: http://sjifactor.com/passport.php?id=21363 boundaries and should meet the impact effectively on people must target particular situation created by the both gender. Their opinions on suitable specific needs of development, of strategies count because it shows that participation in community life and all they are likely to avail themselves of the fields of knowledge and are addressed to opportunity to be enlightened or all people whatever their level of conscientized through such strategies. achievement. The fact that HPV infection which causes cervical cancer is mainly This study sought to determine transmitted sexually, portends that men sustainable strategies for creating must of necessity be conscious of the awareness on cervical cancer among the disease and also contribute their quota in populace using staff of tertiary fighting it. Williams and Amaoteng institutions in Anambra State. Their (2012) assessed knowledge and belief various situations represented a about cervical cancer among men in prototype of the larger society and made Kumasi, Ghana. The present study is for inclusive and balanced opinions in also interested in male involvement in the determination of likely suitable tackling female sexual and reproductive strategies for creating awareness. health issues, hence the opinion of men Johnson, Armstrong & Joyce et al. on strategies for intervention was also (2018) emphasized the need to diversify sought. Studies by Obiozor (2016), strategies used for effective Abiodun et al. (2014) and Wright, implementation, in order to improve Kuyinu and Faduliye (2010)assessed the implementation, sustainability and extent some education strategies were achieve great health outcomes. utilized and their effects in creating The respondents in this study may differ awareness of diseases. While these in their responses on the strategies based studies are similar to the present study in on gender. Male and female staff of promoting awareness of diseases, the tertiary institutions may have different present study reviewed strategies used to opinions on strategies for awareness reduce cervical cancer in Nigeria. because of what each gender may consider suitable based on gender Statement of the problem perspectives or mindset. This is very The burden of cervical cancer has important because any awareness reduced in most western countries such programme on cervical cancer that will as America and Europe because UNIJERPS Unizik Journal of Educational Research and Policy Studies Vol.4; https://unijerps.org January-June, 2021 263

UNIJERPS Unizik Journal of Educational Research and Policy Studies Vol.4; https://unijerps.org ACADEMICJOURNALS 2021 Impact Factor: 5.641; 2020 Impact Factor: 5.355. expand your knowledge January-June, 2021 http://www.academicjournals.org Indexing and Impact Factor URL: http://sjifactor.com/passport.php?id=21363 screening tests, vaccines and other prompted the researchers to carry out technologies to prevent HPV are this study to determine some holistic and available (Centre for Disease Control inclusive adult education strategies for [CDC], 2016) but such screening in creating awareness on people of developing countries is abysmal (WHO, different social status so that they can 2013).This gap in screening and take informed action against the disease. awareness lead to high mortality rate of women from cervical cancer in Nigeria. Research Question Furthermore, in the developed countries, The following research question guided the enlightenment campaigns on the the study: disease is high and this brings low the What are the mean ratings of staff of mortality rate. In 2013, WHO made a tertiary institutions on the possible strong case for putting in place a strategies for creating awareness on national cervical cancer prevention and cervical cancer? control programme as a fundamental step for reducing incidence of cervical Hypothesis cancer, Nigeria flagged off a working The following null hypothesis was tested national cervical cancer prevention and at 0.05 level of significance: control programme in 2018. Male and female staff of tertiary Unfortunately, up till 2020, HPV institutions in Anambra State do not vaccination has not been introduced in differ significantly in their mean ratings the national vaccination schedule in on the strategies for creating awareness Nigeria. HPV vaccination is only on cervical cancer. available and accessible by the rich in few elite private hospitals. Studies also Materials and methods show ignorance, low awareness of Study site cervical cancer and poor knowledge of The study was carried out in Anambra screening methods as reasons for the State at the South-East geopolitical zone high incidence of cervical cancer. The of Nigeria. The people are high mortality rate of cervical cancer predominantly Igbos. The capital of keeps increasing without a Anambra State is Awka. Anambra State corresponding increase on the strategy is bounded on the East by Enugu State, for creating awareness on the disease West by Delta State, North by Kogi particularly at the grassroots. This State and South by Imo and Rivers UNIJERPS Unizik Journal of Educational Research and Policy Studies Vol.4; https://unijerps.org January-June, 2021 264

States (Anambra State Government, possesses different categories of staff in 2016). Abia State also share border with its tertiary institutions. Anambra State at Umunze axis. Anambrarians are industrious and are Study participants particularly noted for their quest for The population of this study was made knowledge. Although some are engaged up of 8,487 staff of conventional tertiary in commerce and agriculture, many are institutions in Anambra State with the highly educated and work as public exception of staff of Madonna servants and civil servants. Anambra University Okija (who refused to State boasts of not less than five participate in the study).The population universities which include Nnamdi of the study is made up of 3907 males Azikiwe University Awka, and 4580 female academic and non- Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu teaching staff of universities, University Igbariam, Paul University polytechnics and colleges of education Awka, Tansian University Umunya, and based on statistics supplied through the Madonna University Campus Okija. authorization of the registrars of these There are also both federal and state institutions. Tertiary institutions in colleges of education as well as a federal Anambra State possess adequate number polytechnic in the state. There are many of staff for this study. In addition, the other post-secondary education fact that the tertiary institutions are institutions and colleges scattered all distributed across the three senatorial over the state. Some new tertiary zones in the state implies an adequate institutions are slated to take off in the coverage of the state. The sample size of near future. A sizeable number of the study which was 382 was determined residents in Anambra State work in using Taro Yamane’s formula. The public and private tertiary institutions. sample frame for the present study is Anambra State was chosen as the area of shown in Table 1.Grab sampling the study because it has recorded many technique was used to collect data from deaths from cervical cancer and each stratum.

UNIJERPS Unizik Journal of Educational Research and Policy Studies Vol.4; https://unijerps.org January-June, 2021 265

Table 1: Population Distribution of Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff of Tertiary Institutions in Anambra State

Institutions Teaching Staff Non-Teaching Staff Total

Males Females Males Females Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu 444 172 314 523 1453 University, Igbariam Nwafor Orizu College of Education, 106 140 146 388 780 Nsugbe Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka 419 903 1171 886 3379 Federal Polytechnic Oko 212 240 474 624 1550 Federal College of Education 144 154 262 414 974 Technical Umunze Paul University, Awka 90 28 51 43 212 Tansian University, Umunya 51 27 25 36 139 TOTAL 1466 1664 2441 2916 8487 Source: Registry Departments of the Institutions Concerned

UNIJERPS Unizik Journal of Educational Research and Policy Studies Vol.4; https://unijerps.org January-June, 2021 266

Table 2: Sample Distribution of Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff of Tertiary Institutions in Anambra State Institution Population Teaching Staff Non-Teaching Total Staff Sample Males Females Males Females Size Chukwuemeka Odimegwu 1453 20 8 14 24 65 Ojukwu University, Igbariam Nwafor Orizu College of 780 5 6 7 17 35 Education, Nsugbe Nnamdi Azikiwe 3379 19 41 53 40 153 University, Awka Federal Polytechnic Oko 1550 10 11 21 28 70 Federal College of 974 7 7 12 17 43 Education Technical Umunze Paul University, Awka 212 4 1 2 2 9 Tansian University, 139 2 1 1 2 6 Umunya TOTAL 8487 67 75 110 130 382

Data collection An instrument titled ‘Cervical Cancer Awareness Scale’ [CCAS] was constructed, validated and used to collect data from selected staff of tertiary institutions in Anambra State. The instrument was subjected to reliability test. A Cronbach’s alpha estimate of 0.74 was realized. The instrument had two parts. Part one solicited information on personal data of the respondents while part two was made up of 10 items. It elicited responses on strategies for creating awareness on cervical cancer. Four-point scale responses of Strongly Agree [SA], Agree [A], Disagree [D] and Strongly Disagree [SD] was used to generate responses. The researchers sought the assistance of some members of staff in the institutions used for the study in the administration and retrieval of the instrument. These assistants were informed on how to distribute the questionnaire according to the proportion selected for each stratum. Copies of the instrument distributed were 425. The first sets of correctly filled and retrieved required number from each stratum in each institution were included in the

UNIJERPS Unizik Journal of Educational Research and Policy Studies Vol.4; https://unijerps.org January-June, 2021 267

Statistical analysis Data obtained from the 382 copies were coded and double-entered into Micro-Soft Excel package analysis and screened. SPSS was used to analyze the data. Mean statistics was used to answer the research questions while t-test was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The decision rule was based on the boundary limits of the four-point rating scale as follows:

Response Options Rating Point Boundary Limits Strongly Agree 4 3.50 - 4.00 Agree 3 2.50 - 3.49 Disagree 2 1.50 - 2.49 Strongly Disagree 1 1.00 - 1.49

The extent of agreement or disagreement to any strategy for enlightenment was shown as follows: Items with mean rating of 2.49 and below showed disagreement to an item while items with 2.50 and above showed agreement to an item. A null hypothesis (H0) was rejected if the p-value was equal to or greater than the level of significance (5%= 0.05) or otherwise the alternate hypothesis (Ha) was accepted.

UNIJERPS Unizik Journal of Educational Research and Policy Studies Vol.4; https://unijerps.org January-June, 2021 268

Results Research Question: What are the mean ratings of staff of tertiary institutions on the identified strategies for creating awareness on cervical cancer? Data collected to answer the research question were analyzed, interpreted and presented in Table 3.

Table 3: Mean Ratings of Staff of Tertiary Institutions on the Identified Strategies for Creating Awareness on Cervical Cancer

S/N Strategies Mean Remarks

1. Making it mandatory for church members to 3.23 Agree include articles on women cancers (including cervical cancer) and other non-communicable diseases) in burial programmes of members

Including slots in key festivals and events (such as 2. Ofala festival, new yam festival, annual kindred 3.41 Agree meetings) in various communities to educate the people on deadly diseases and healthy lifestyle

3. Making it compulsory for Parent Teachers 3.44 Agree Associations (PTAs) of every secondary school to include a programme on cervical cancer/ human papilloma virus awareness at least once in their yearly programmes

4. Giving slots for health talks during wake-keeping 2.92 Agree and vigils

6. Incorporating cervical cancer enlightenment 3.61 Strongly Agree campaigns as part of activities of various institutions’ staff welfare programmes

UNIJERPS Unizik Journal of Educational Research and Policy Studies Vol.4; https://unijerps.org January-June, 2021 269

7. Producing and making available pamphlets on 3.60 Strongly Agree cervical cancer at strategic public places such as market place, government offices, reception halls of both private and public organization, hotels, restaurants, beer parlours, hairdressing places, mechanic and tailor workshops

8. Including mobile cervical cancer screening and 3.57 Strongly Agree education programmes in annual general meeting programme of women of various towns and religious organisations (e.g. August Meeting)

9. Encouraging the inclusion of talks on healthy 2.98 Agree lifestyles in birthday party programmes of well- meaning and philanthropic adults

10. Organizing and dedicating one Saturday in every 3.38 Agree month for road walk and exercise in various neighbourhoods in urban and rural areas where few minutes can be dedicated to education on ways of preventing prevalent diseases such as cervical cancer

GRAND MEAN 3.35 Agree

Table 3 reveals that the respondents strongly agreed to items 6, 7, 8 while they agreed to all other items in the Table. The grand mean of 3.35 shows that the respondents agreed to the research question. In the opinion of the respondents the items could therefore be used successfully as effective strategies for creating awareness on cervical cancer

Test of the Null Hypothesis Null Hypothesis: The mean ratings of male and female staff do not differ significantly on the identified strategies for creating awareness on cervical cancer. UNIJERPS Unizik Journal of Educational Research and Policy Studies Vol.4; https://unijerps.org January-June, 2021 270

Table 4: t-test on the Mean Ratings of Male and Female Staff of Tertiary Institutions in Anambra State on the Identified Strategies for Creating Awareness on Cervical Cancer Source of variation N X SD df Cal.t P.Cal P≥ 0.05 Male 181 33.96 4.52 380 1.53 0.127 NS Female 201 33.20 5.10

Table 4 indicates that at 0.05 level of significance and 380 degrees of freedom the calculated t 1.53 with calculated p. value 0.127is greater than the critical p. value 0.05. Thenull hypothesis is accepted. Therefore, the mean ratings of male and female staff do not differ significantly on the strategies for enlightenment on cervical cancer.

Discussion of Findings The findings of the study indicated that appropriate strategies that could be used staff of tertiary institutions in Anambra to widen the reach of educational State agreed that all the strategies listed interventions. The results of Abiodun et can be used to enlighten the populace on al, Wright, Kuyinu and Faduliye and the cervical cancer. This finding is in present study are complementary so the consonant with the findings of Abiodun strategies could be combined to create et al. (2014)which agreed that health awareness. Furthermore, the study education was effective in creating agreed with the findings of Johnson, awareness and improving the knowledge Armstrong, Joyce et al. (2018) which and perception of women on cervical affirmed the need to diversify strategies cancer and its preventive strategies. used for implementation in order to Similarly, the study is in agreement with foster sustainability and effective the study of Wright, Kuyinu and awareness and positive health outcomes Faduliye (2010) which found significant particularly at the grass root level. increase in the awareness of the group that received educational messages on In another study, Obiozor (2016) cervical cancer and its prevention. The assessed the extent of implementation of present study is similar to Wright’s study awareness and enlightenment in propagating education of the populace programmes for minimizing socio- and in addition sought out many other psychological problems of adults living UNIJERPS Unizik Journal of Educational Research and Policy Studies Vol.4; https://unijerps.org January-June, 2021 271

UNIJERPS Unizik Journal of Educational Research and Policy Studies Vol.4; https://unijerps.org ACADEMICJOURNALS 2021 Impact Factor: 5.641; 2020 Impact Factor: 5.355. expand your knowledge January-June, 2021 http://www.academicjournals.org Indexing and Impact Factor URL: http://sjifactor.com/passport.php?id=21363 with HIV/AIDS. Obiozor found among awareness on cervical cancer in other things that billboards and hand Anambra State. bills are commonly displayed to reduce fear among the people. She also found Recommendations that special forums, workshops, seminars Based on the findings of the study, the and media were utilized to a high extent researchers made the following to create awareness. These findings do recommendations: not negate the findings of this paper but 1. The federal ministry of education rather agrees with it. Creating awareness should make mandatory the during burial programmes, PTA inclusion of HPV awareness meetings, annual general meetings of programmes in PTA meetings of both gender among others are in line every secondary school at least once with the findings by Obiozor.This every year. agreement may be because sustainable 2. The federal ministry of health in awareness programmes and strategies collaboration with other lead to greater awareness and health governmental agencies and NGOs action (Obidiegwu & Anurugwo, 2016). should design health educational It is hoped that the strategies will pamphlets on key facts on cervical contribute sustainably to the number of cancer and spread same across the people reached for greater prevention of nation particularly in states such as the disease. Anambra in order to create awareness. The present study found that gender did 3. Anambra State government and all not have significant effect on mean local government areas in the state ratings of staff on strategies for should establish a women centre in enlightenment. This implies that all the each local government headquarter strategies would impact on the where women can be educated, awareness of both male and female screened, and vaccinated against members of the society and therefore HPV at least twice yearly. should be used for sustainable 4. Women organizations should be in awareness. the vanguard of using the listed

strategies to organize awareness and Conclusion screening programmes in It was concluded that the listed strategies collaboration with Nigerian Medical would be effective for creating UNIJERPS Unizik Journal of Educational Research and Policy Studies Vol.4; https://unijerps.org January-June, 2021 272

Association (NMA) and Medical Centre for Disease Control [CDC] Women Association of Nigeria (2016). Cervical cancer. (MWAN). Retrieved from 5. Adult educators and Community www.cdc.gov>Gynecologic development workers in every Cancers. community should liaise with the Chukwuemerie, O.C. (2018). Level of town union executives so that they Awareness of Cervical Cancer can initiate the inclusion of health and Strategies for Public awareness programmes in key Enlightenment in Anambra State. festivals and other suitable Unpublished Dissertation of functions for effective Nnamdi Azikiwe University conscientization of the public. Awka. REFERENCES Chukwuemerie, O.C. & Tedjere, S.R. Abiodun, O.A., Olu-Abiodun, O.O., (2016). Cervical cancer: Need for Sotunsa, J.O., & Oluwole, F.A. awareness of preventive (2014). Impact of health measures through adult and non- education intervention on formal education. African knowledge and perception of Journal of Education, Science cervical cancer and screening and Technology, 3(2), 56-69. uptake among adult women in Retrieved from rural communities in Nigeria. http://www.coou.edu.ng/journals/ BMC PublicHealth.14: 814. doi: ajest/vol_3_iss_2/ 10.1186/1471-2458-14-814 Committee Encouraging Corporate Balogun, M.R., Odukoya, O.O., Philanthropy [CECP] (2015). Oyediran, M.A., & Ujomu, P.I. Preventing cervical cancer: The (2012). Cervical cancer role of vaccines. Retrieved from awareness and preventive www.cecpng.org/?m=201503 practices: A challenge for female ICO/IARC Information Centre on HPV urban slum dwellers in Lagos. and Cancer (2019). Nigeria African Journal of Reproductive human papilloma virus and Health. 16(1), 75-82 related cancers facts sheet 2018,

UNIJERPS Unizik Journal of Educational Research and Policy Studies Vol.4; https://unijerps.org January-June, 2021 273

Retrieved from Nnamdi Azikiwe University www.hpvcentre.net>NGA_FS. Awka Johnson, L.G., Armstrong, A., Joyce, Obidiegwu, U.J. & Anurugwo, A. O. C.M., Teitelman, A.M. & (2016). Extent of utilization of Buttenheim, A.M. (2018). primary health care programme Implementation strategies to for mobilization of rural women improve cervical cancer in Imo State, Nigeria. Journal of prevention in Sub-Saharan Education Policy and Africa. Implementation Sci 13, Entrepreneurial Research 3(6), 28. Retrieved from 71-80. Https://implementationscience.bi Obiozor, W.E. & Obidiegwu, U.J. omedcentral.com/articles/10.118 (2013). Globalisation of adult 6/s13012-018-0719-9#citeas education: Theories and National Cancer Institute, USA (2015). strategies for instructors. Awka: Causes and prevention. One Street Books. Retrieved from Obiozor, O.R. (2016). Assessment of the http://www.cancer.gov/about- implementation of non-formal cancer/causes-prevention education programmes for Nzeneri, P.U. & Abe, E.C (2013). minimizing socio-psychological Educational technology problems of adults living with (EDUTECH) as a veritable tool HIV/AIDS in South-East Nigeria. for effective adult education Unpublished Dissertation of delivery in Nigeria. Journal of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Theoretical and Empirical Awka. Studies in Education. 3(1), 157- Oche, M.O., Kaoje, A.U., Gana, G. & 163. Ango, J.I. (2013). Cancer of the Obidiegwu, U.J. (2020). Collaborative cervix and cervical screening: and inclusive non-formal Current knowledge, attitude and education approach for learning practices of female health STEAM in Post-COVID 19 era. workers in Sokoto, Nigeria. [Unpublished Manuscript]. International Journal of Department of Adult Education, Medicine and Medical Sciences.

UNIJERPS Unizik Journal of Educational Research and Policy Studies Vol.4; https://unijerps.org January-June, 2021 274

5(4), 84-190. Retrieved from WHO (2013).Comprehensive cervical http://www.academicjournals.org cancer prevention and control: A /IJMMS healthier future for girls and Okwara, V. (2015, September 6). My women. Retrieved from dream is to rid the society of http://www.who.int cancer – Prof. Ifeoma Okoye. WHO (2020). Human papillomavirus Retrieved from (HPV) and cervical cancer: Key http://newtelegraphonline.com/ab facts. Retrieved from out /correspondent/Okoye.htm https://www.who.int/en/news- Olayiwola, A. (2014, July 7). No woman room/ facts-sheets/detail/ should die of cervical cancer. Williams, M.S. &Amaoteng, P. (2012). Retrieved from Knowledge and belief about http://www.leadership.ng/.../wom cervical cancer screening among an-die-cervical-can... men in Kumasi, Ghana. Ghana Udigwe, G.O. (2006). Knowledge, Med J. 46(3), 147 – 151. attitude and practice of cervical Wright, K.O., Kuyinu, Y.A., &Faduyile, cancer screening (pap smear) F.A. (2010). Community among female nurses in Nnewi, education on cervical cancer South- Eastern Nigeria. Niger. J. amongst market women in an Clin. Pract. 9(1), 40-43. urban area of Lagos, Nigeria. WHO (2006). Comprehensive cervical Asian Pac J Cancer Prevention, cancer control: A guide to 11, pp.137-140. Retrieved from essential practice. Geneva: https://www.journal.waocp.org/? WHO. Retrieved from sid=Entrez:Pubmed&id=pmid:20 http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publicat 593944&key=2010.11.1.137. ions/2006/9241547006.eng.pdf

UNIJERPS Unizik Journal of Educational Research and Policy Studies Vol.4; https://unijerps.org January-June, 2021 275