Table 4 Practices of cancer screening among PLHIV and non-PLHIV attending clinics in Nigerian tertiary hospitals

Knowledge of screening

Participants were fairly knowledgeable of what screening for cancer means.

“Screening is where the professionals check you to know if you have cancer or not” PLHIV respondent

Reasons for poor screening practices

Fear

“They don’t want to do screening for cancer because it is like asking God to give you the disease; it is like inviting cancer to your body” non-PLHIV respondent

Cost

“If the screening is free I will like to do it, the hospital where I go to the screening for men is4000 naira, it is too expensive” PLHIV respondent

Use of alternative health care

“Some people do not want to go and do the test because they are afraid that their secret will come out, it is better to go to the herbalist where you will not meet many people and the secret will be kept” PLHIV respondent

General screening acceptability

Participants expressed willingness to participate in screening

“I will participate in any screening test in the hospital because I want to know if I have cancer or not” non-PLHIV respondent

Previous history of screening

Only 3 participants in our study had ever been screened for cancer.

“I was screened in the clinic for cervical cancer, it was free. PLHIV respondent

Recommendations to improve cancer information and cancer screening practices

Participants mentioned mass and electronic media, mobile text messaging, health talks and campaigns as useful methods of disseminating information.

“They can give regular health talks at the hospitals and offer free screening” PLHIV respondent

“You can go to different sport centers where youths gather to watch football and spread the information” non-PLHIV respondent