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Effect of Fibroid Awareness Education on Fibroid Symptom Recognition among Women of Reproductive Age in Nigeria

Abstract

Uterine fibroids are common benign tumours of the uterus and represent an important women's reproductive health concern. Although fibroids are non-cancerous, they may cause symptoms that affect women's physical health, reproductive wellbeing, daily activities, and quality of life. Common symptoms may include heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding, pelvic pressure or pain, abdominal enlargement, frequent urination, painful intercourse, and reproductive difficulties. However, some women may have limited knowledge of fibroids and may mistake their symptoms for normal menstrual experiences or other health conditions. Inadequate awareness, cultural beliefs, misconceptions, fear of diagnosis, financial barriers, and limited access to reliable reproductive health information may contribute to delayed recognition and healthcare-seeking. Fibroid awareness education provides an opportunity to improve women's understanding of fibroid risk factors, symptoms, possible complications, and the importance of appropriate medical assessment. Against this background, this study investigates the effect of fibroid awareness education on fibroid symptom recognition among women of reproductive age in Nigeria. The study will be anchored on the Health Belief Model, Social Cognitive Theory, and Knowledge-Attitude-Practice Model. The Health Belief Model explains how women's perceptions of their susceptibility to fibroids, perceived severity of fibroid-related complications, perceived benefits of recognizing symptoms, perceived barriers, and cues to action may influence their ability to identify concerning symptoms. Social Cognitive Theory emphasizes knowledge acquisition, observational learning, self-efficacy, social support, and environmental influences in developing and applying health knowledge. The Knowledge-Attitude-Practice Model provides a framework for explaining how improved health information may influence women's understanding of fibroid symptoms and their subsequent health-related decisions. Collectively, these theoretical perspectives provide a suitable framework for explaining how fibroid awareness education may influence symptom recognition among women of reproductive age in Nigeria. The study will adopt a quantitative analytical cross-sectional or quasi-experimental research design. The study population will comprise women of reproductive age attending selected hospitals, primary healthcare centres, reproductive health clinics, family planning facilities, community health programmes, workplaces, and other relevant settings across Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique will be used to select states, local government areas, communities, healthcare facilities, organizations, and eligible women. Fibroid awareness education will be assessed using indicators such as exposure to structured fibroid education, frequency and duration of educational sessions, information on fibroid risk factors, possible symptoms, complications, available diagnostic approaches, treatment options, and appropriate healthcare-seeking. Fibroid symptom recognition will be assessed using indicators such as the ability to recognize heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding, pelvic or lower abdominal pain or pressure, abdominal enlargement, frequent urination, painful sexual intercourse, symptoms associated with anaemia, and reproductive difficulties that may warrant professional assessment. The study will emphasize that these symptoms are not specific to fibroids and that appropriate clinical evaluation is required for diagnosis. Data will be collected using structured questionnaires and appropriate reproductive health or fibroid-awareness assessment instruments. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize participants' characteristics, levels of fibroid awareness, and patterns of symptom recognition. Inferential statistical techniques, including chi-square tests, t-tests, correlation analysis, and logistic or multiple regression analysis where appropriate, will be used to determine the effect of fibroid awareness education on symptom recognition. Where a quasi-experimental design is adopted, symptom-recognition scores before and after structured education may be compared, while relevant demographic, reproductive, educational, socioeconomic, cultural, and healthcare-access factors are appropriately controlled. Diagnostic tests will also be conducted to assess the reliability, validity, and robustness of the findings. The study is expected to find that fibroid awareness education has a significant positive effect on fibroid symptom recognition among women of reproductive age in Nigeria. Women who receive structured and evidence-based fibroid education are expected to demonstrate greater ability to recognize potential fibroid-related symptoms than women with limited exposure to fibroid information. Increased awareness may help women distinguish potentially concerning symptoms from ordinary menstrual experiences and understand when professional medical assessment may be appropriate. Education may also correct misconceptions, reduce fear and stigma surrounding fibroids, and encourage women to seek appropriate evaluation rather than relying on self-medication or unverified remedies. However, cultural beliefs, misinformation, low health literacy, financial constraints, fear of diagnosis or surgery, limited access to healthcare facilities, and inadequate exposure to reproductive health education may reduce the effectiveness of awareness programmes. The study therefore expects accessible, culturally appropriate, evidence-based, and regularly reinforced fibroid awareness education to contribute significantly to improved symptom recognition among women of reproductive age in Nigeria. The study is expected to contribute to the literature on fibroid awareness education, fibroid symptom recognition, uterine fibroids, women's reproductive health, reproductive health education, early recognition, healthcare-seeking, and public health in Nigeria. The findings will provide useful information to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, state ministries of health, hospitals, primary healthcare centres, reproductive health clinics, healthcare providers, gynaecologists, nurses, midwives, community health workers, women's health programmes, development partners, and policymakers regarding strategies for improving awareness and recognition of fibroid-related symptoms. The study will also provide evidence-based recommendations for integrating fibroid education into appropriate women's and reproductive healthcare services, training healthcare workers in effective fibroid communication, developing culturally appropriate educational materials, strengthening community-based women's health education, improving access to appropriate diagnostic and referral services, and promoting timely professional evaluation of persistent or concerning symptoms among women across Nigeria.

Keywords: Fibroid awareness education, fibroid symptom recognition, uterine fibroids, women of reproductive age, women's reproductive health, reproductive health education, fibroid awareness, early recognition, healthcare-seeking, Nigeria, public health.