Background: Papanicolaou Smear test has been used to screen for pre-malignant lesions of the cervix and its application has reduced the incidence of cervical cancer by over 70% in the last five decades. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a known cause of cervical cancer. HPV vaccination is a primary prevention of cervical cancer.

Objective: To determine the uptake of Papanicolaou smear test and human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine among the clients of the family planning clinic of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Port Harcourt.

Method: This was a prospective descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among 236 female clients of the family planning clinic in UPTH. Selected participants completed a self administered structured questionnaire capturing information on socio-demographic characteristics and uptake of Papanicoalaou smear test and HPV vaccine. The data were entered into a spread sheet and analysed with Microsoft excel 2017 statistical software. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results: The mean age of the respondents in the study was 36.41± 6.01 with (148) 39.8% aged between 30-39 years and (174) 73.73% were multiparous. Forty four (18.64%) participants had done a pap smear and only 2.54% had received the HPV vaccine. There was a significant relationship between the level of education of participants and knowledge of PAP smear.

Conclusion: The uptake of PAP smear and HPV vaccine were very low. Education will improve the knowledge and hence uptake of PAP smear and HPV vaccine.

Keywords: Uptake, Papanicolaou Smear, Human Papillomavirus Vaccine, Port Harcourt.

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Oranu Emmanuel

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt